P49.41M illicit cigs fall in Zambo

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The government raided a well-secured bodega in a Muslim-dominated village here and seized 1,098 master cases of assorted brands of smuggled cigarettes estimated at P49.41 million, on 25 January.

Zamboanga City Police Director Police Colonel Alexander Lorenzo said the police stumbled upon the contraband while conducting a follow-up investigation and operation on a shooting incident that occurred in Barangay Kasanyangan, which injured four people, including two children, on Monday night.

Police reported pursuing some suspects who ran into the bodega loaded with a stockpile of smuggled cigarettes.

Authorities continues to collect information about the warehouse and the contrabands.