JOLO, Sulu — Authorities intercepted a minivan in Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur loaded with 1,400 reams of smuggled cigarettes worth P1.26 million, according to the Bureau of Customs Zamboanga City District Office.

BoC Zamboanga City district collector Segundo Barte Jr. said that BoC operatives and policemen of Dumingag Municipal Police Station in Zamboanga del Sur intercepted the minivan at a checkpoint they established at the National Highways of Purok 2, Barangay Dulop in Dumingag on Sunday.

The minivan was loaded with 1,400 reams of Souvenir brand of smuggled cigarettes and was traveling from Zamboanga City to Dumingag town when it was intercepted by the authorities.

According to Barte, the driver failed to present to the authorities any pertinent documents for the transport of tobacco leave products and BoC operatives immediately took custody of the illicit tobacco leave products and placed the driver under investigation.

Barte said BoC operatives are strictly implementing the campaign on border control to further prevent the entry to the Zamboanga Peninsula and Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi provinces smuggled cigarettes.

"We have to adopt a more stricter measures on border control to further curtail the entry of smuggled cigarettes in the region and in BaSulTa provinces," Barte said.