ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Bureau of Customs District Office in Zamboanga City seized 1,148 master cases of assorted brands of smuggled cigarettes estimated to be worth P51.66 million during 10 joint police and military anti-smuggling campaign in the Zamboanga peninsula and in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

BoC Zamboanga City district collector Segundo Barte Jr. said that the agency — in close coordination with police and military authorities — was able to halt the entry of 1,148 master cases of tobacco leave products to the region.

He added that of the 10 border control campaigns conducted by the BoC, three were intercepted in the sea lanes of BaSulTa coming from the nearby Federal State of Sabah, the alleged source of smuggled cigarettes.

Barte said that authorities also intercepted three deliveries of smuggled cigarettes in the province of Zamboanga del Sur and another in Sibugay province.

Meantime, Four deliveries of smuggled cigarettes to public markets in Zamboanga City were also intercepted by the authorities during their anti-smuggling drive here.

Among the brand of smuggled cigarettes seized and stored at the BoC warehouse were Cannon, Fort, Champion, San Marino, Tradition, Absolute, Famous, New Berlin, Astro, Tradition and New Far.