THE Port of Zamboanga announced seizure of smuggled cigarettes worth P8.6 million, including the vessels used to transport them, during multiple anti-smuggling operations it conducted jointly with the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) from July 25 to August 11, 2022.
Port district collector, Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte Jr., in his report to acting commissioner Yogi Filemon Ruiz, the operations resulted to the confiscation of 276 master cases and 327 reams of smuggled cigarettes.
Operating units conducted two apprehensions during seaborne patrols and three at customs checkpoints, Barte reported.
Barte also assured Ruiz that the port is committed to eliminating smuggling in the country as part of the priority programs of the customs chief.
He also credited the strengthened inter-agency coordination and public support in the port’s gains versus smuggling.