By Teofilo Garcia, Jr. | Philippine News Agency
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Lawmen have arrested seven people off this city in two separate incidents over the alleged smuggling of almost P1.7 million worth of cigarettes and illegally cut lumber, police officials said on Wednesday (Nov. 3).
Col. Rexmel Reyes, Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director, said the contraband was seized around 1:00 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 2) near Barangay Tumalutap, one of the island barangays east of the city.
Reyes said the joint team of the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company (2ZCMFC) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) was conducting a seaborne and border control operation when they intercepted a motorboat named “Sacrifice” manned by a three-man crew.
He said the motorboat, when inspected, was found to be loaded with 47 master cases of assorted smuggled cigarettes with an estimated market value of P1,645,000.
The contraband consisted of 11 master cases of Fort white, 25 master cases of Astro Red, and 11 master cases of Cannon.
Reyes said the crew of the motorboat failed to show proof that the shipment of the cigarettes coming from Jolo, Sulu bound for Zamboanga Sibugay province, was legal.
He said the three crew were identified as the following: Udi Monib, the skipper; Garry Sajarul, 22; and Yaser Mohammad, 23.
The confiscated cigarettes, including the motorboat and crewmen, were turned over to the BOC for proper disposition.
Lumber
Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Reynald Ariño, 2ZCMFC commander, said the shipment of the illegally-cut lumber was seized around 10:00 a.m. Tuesday near Barangay Manalipa, also an island village, east of the city.
Ariño said the joint team of 2ZCMFC and anti-illegal logging task force intercepted a motorboat named “Morina” skippered by Many Ubba,42, and three others while on seaborne patrol.
The three other boat crew were identified as Aikam Danil, 25; Adzkiel Danil, 35; and, Ogie Sabturani, 20.
Ariño said the motorboat was loaded with undocumented 1,357 board feet of Lauan lumber with an estimated market value of P67,880 that came from Basilan and bound for Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay.
He said the seized lumber, motorboat, and four crew members were turned over to the custody of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office.
Reyes lauded the operatives of the 2ZCMFC, BOC, and anti-illegal task force for the successful operations that led to the confiscation of the smuggled cigarettes and illegally-cut lumber. (PNA) – bny
