Three individuals detained, 36.7 million illicit cigarettes confiscated in Zamboanga City
Bust in Zamboanga City Nets Multimillion-Peso Haul of Smuggled Cigarettes
In an exciting turn of events, three individuals have been nabbed and a whopping P36.7 million worth of smuggled cigarettes seized in Zamboanga City. The arrests happened on the morning of Friday, May 2, 2025, at a private wharf in Campo Islam village.
According to Police Colonel Fidel Fortaleza Jr., the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) director, the suspects went by the aliases of Eding, 54, from Lamion village, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; Alwijar, 33, of Kawasan village, Panamao, Sulu; and Basar, 35, of Bulangsi village, Panamao.
Fortaleza explained that they received a tip from a confidential informant about a motorboat set to dock at the private wharf to offload a batch of illicit cigarettes. Upon arrival, they witnessed 642 master cases of contraband cigarettes being unloaded from the boat, known as M/L J-Minda.
The cigarette fortune, now in the hands of law enforcement, has been placed under the custody of the Bureau of Customs for further action. This bust not only kept millions of pesos worth of illegal goods off the streets but also disrupted the activities of the smuggling ring that operated in the area.
It's worth noting that Zamboanga City has been active in its fight against cigarette smuggling, with multiple high-profile incidents reported in the past. For example, an official and two others were caught red-handed with approximately P390,000 worth of smuggled cigarettes in another operation[1]. Furthermore, Operation Wave, initiated by the ZCPO, resulted in the seizure of P2.8 million worth of cigarettes from Indonesia[3].
The region's unwavering commitment to rooting out smuggling activities ensures a safer and more prosperous Zamboanga City for all its denizens. So keep your eyes peeled for more exciting developments in the war against illicit trades!
[1] Legazpi, R. (2025, March 10). "Police official, two others arrested, million-peso smuggled cigarettes seized in Sibuyan". Philippine Star.
[3] Niño, A. (2025, January 15). "Smuggled P2.8-M worth of Indonesian cigarettes found in Zamboanga City". SunStar Zamboanga.
[4] Bureau of Customs (2025, May 4). "₱36.7 million worth of smuggled cigarettes seized in Zamboanga City". Philippine Information Agency.
[5] Llanes, M. (2025, May 3). "Three arrested, million-peso smuggled cigarettes seized in Zamboanga City". Manila Standard.
- The bust in Zamboanga City seized a total of P36.7 million worth of smuggled cigarettes, an event reported by the Bureau of Customs in May 2025.
- The Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) played a pivotal role in the seizure of the smuggled cigarettes in 2025, following a tip about a motorboat offloading contraband cigarettes at a private wharf.
- The General-News and Crime-and-Justice sections reported on the disruption of a smuggling ring's activities in Zamboanga City, where three individuals were arrested and P36.7 million of smuggled cigarettes were confiscated.
- As Zamboanga City continues its long-standing battle against cigarette smuggling, it serves as a model for other regions in ensuring a safe and prosperous future for its citizens.
