In a significant blow to smuggling operations, law enforcement authorities in Zamboanga City have confiscated a massive shipment of contraband cigarettes valued at over P21.2 million and arrested three individuals.
Maritime Patrol Leads to Major Bust
The operation unfolded on the afternoon of Monday, January 5, 2026, near the island village of Manalipa. According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Philmore Dumagat, chief of the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force "Seaborne" Company (2ZCMFC), personnel were on a routine seaborne patrol when they spotted a suspicious motorboat, locally known as a jungkung.
Upon conducting an inspection, the team discovered the vessel was laden with 332 master cases containing various brands of cigarettes. The crew, consisting of three people, could not produce any documents to prove the legality of their cargo, leading to immediate action by the police.
Massive Contraband and Arrests
The estimated value of the seized cigarettes is a staggering P21,258,000. Following the failed document check, the lawmen moved swiftly to apprehend the three crew members and take control of both the motorboat and its illicit cargo.
Lt. Col. Dumagat stated that the identities of the arrested individuals are being withheld temporarily as the investigation progresses. All confiscated items and the suspects were transported to the 2ZCMFC headquarters for proper documentation and legal processing.
Continued Crackdown on Smuggling
This successful interception underscores the ongoing and intensified anti-smuggling campaign in the Zamboanga region. Lt. Col. Dumagat emphasized that operations like these are crucial in curbing illegal trade that harms the local economy and violates national laws.
He assured the public that the 2ZCMFC and related agencies will continue to strengthen their maritime patrols and vigilance to intercept similar illegal shipments, sending a clear message to smuggling syndicates operating in the area.
