ZAMBOANGA CITY — Police seized a closed delivery van loaded with suspected smuggled cigarettes valued at approximately ₱15.7 million during an intelligence-driven checkpoint operation along Baliwasan Seaside in Barangay Baliwasan early Wednesday, October 28.
Personnel of Police Station 13 (PS-13), led by station commander Capt. Ariel S. Cabanlong, intercepted the vehicle shortly after 1 a.m. while conducting a joint checkpoint operation with other law enforcement units in the area.
The operation resulted in the discovery of a large shipment of cigarettes suspected to have been smuggled into the country. The seizure was carried out with the assistance of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), whose personnel joined police officers in inspecting the confiscated goods. Police trainees completing their on-the-job training also assisted during the inspection.
The interception took place along Baliwasan Seaside, near the PS-13 station in Barangay San Jose Gusu, according to details provided about the operation. The checkpoint was part of coordinated law enforcement efforts aimed at detecting and intercepting suspected illegal shipments moving through the city.
The estimated value of the confiscated cigarettes, placed at ₱15.7 million, underscores the potential scale of the illicit tobacco trade and its implications for government revenue collection and the enforcement of customs regulations.
Smuggled cigarette shipments can undermine legitimate businesses and deprive the government of duties and taxes when imported goods bypass the required customs procedures. Authorities typically examine seized shipments to establish their origin, ownership, and compliance with importation and tax regulations.
However, the available information did not identify the driver or owner of the van, nor did it specify whether anyone was arrested in connection with the seizure. Details regarding the brands, quantity, country of origin, and final disposition of the confiscated cigarettes were also not immediately provided.
The police and customs authorities are expected to determine the circumstances surrounding the shipment and establish whether violations of customs and other applicable laws were committed.
The operation highlights the importance of intelligence-led checkpoints and interagency coordination in efforts to curb the movement of suspected contraband in Zamboanga City.