ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Bureau of Customs-Port of Zamboanga destroyed P500 million worth of smuggled cigarettes that it seized in Zamboanga peninsula, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi from January to November of this year.

Based on the report of its border control accomplishments, the agency said it conducted 141 operations to seized the said amount of illegally imported cigarettes contained in 13,500 master cases during the period.

In May, the first condemnation of the contraband saw P110 million worth of illicit tobacco products destroyed.

Personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection drenched the confiscated cigarettes in water, crushed them using a payloader and disposed them of at the sanitary landfill in Barangay Salaan in this city.

BoC-Port of Zamboanga destroyed last 13 December the second batch of seized smuggled cigarettes worth P395 million held simultaneously at the Pavilion Gym, Provincial Government Complex, Barangay Dao, Pagadian City, and at a customs-rented warehouse in Barangay Baliwasan in this city.

Armed Forces of the Philippines-Western Mindanao Command Acting Commander Brig. Gen. Arturo Rojas commended the troops and other units of the AFP-WestMinCom for actively participating in law enforcement operations that led of the said seizures.

"Rest assured that we will continue to support BoC-Port of Zamboanga in their campaign against anti-smuggling and other illegal activities in our area of operation," Rojas said.

BoC-Port of Zamboanga attributed the accomplishment to the efficient coordination of members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Anti-Smuggling in ZamBaSulTa.

The task force is composed of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Internal Revenue and the local government unit.