BY BETHEENA UNITE
Smuggled cigarettes worth P10.8 million from Sulu were intercepted off the coast of Zamboanga del Sur, the Bureau of Customs said Monday.
More than 300 master cases of cigarettes believed to be smuggled were uncovered from a motorized banca marked “FB Normay” that was stopped during a maritime patrol off Tabina, Zamboanga del Sur on Friday.
The fishing boat was loaded with various cigarette brands such as Fort, New Far, San Marino, Royal, and Astro.
The operation was conducted by a team from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service and Enforcement and Security Service, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and representatives from Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Inc. (Betheena Unite)
