Authorities in Zamboanga del Sur made a significant bust on Christmas Eve, apprehending a suspect and confiscating contraband cigarettes valued at approximately P735,000.
Coastal Operation Nets Suspect
The police operation unfolded on December 24, 2025, around 10:20 p.m. in Purok Lapu-Lapu, White Beach Village, Pagadian City. According to the Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9), the action was based on verified intelligence about the transportation of smuggled goods in the coastal village.
Upon reaching the location, law enforcement officers spotted a male individual on a fishing boat docked along the shoreline. The suspect was in the process of hauling a box believed to contain illegal cigarettes.
Massive Contraband Haul
The operatives moved in and arrested the suspect, who was identified only as a resident of Pagadian City. A subsequent inspection of the seized items revealed a substantial quantity of untaxed cigarettes.
The confiscated contraband included:
- 21 master cases of cigarettes
- 30 reams of cigarettes
All of the items lacked the required government tax stamps. The police estimated the total market value of the seized goods to be P735,000.
Case Turned Over for Disposition
Following the arrest, the suspect was taken to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Field Unit for documentation and the filing of appropriate charges.
The physical evidence, the large cache of smuggled cigarettes, was handed over to the Bureau of Customs office in Pagadian City for proper custody and further legal action. The PRO-9 officially announced the results of this successful interdiction in a statement released on Friday, December 26, 2025.
This Christmas Eve operation highlights the continued vigilance of law enforcement agencies in the Zamboanga Peninsula against the smuggling of contraband, which deprives the government of rightful tax revenue.
