Entry of smuggled cigarettes in Cotabato monitored

 SEIZED. Marine soldiers and Bureau of Customs personnel inspect the seized smuggled cigarette boxes loaded at the back section of a commuter van while passing through a Marine checkpoint in Cotabato City on Tuesday, December 8. On Monday, authorities intercept a motorboat (inset) loaded with 500 boxes of cigarette contraband valued at P15-million at Tamontaka River in the same city. (PHOTOS COURTESY OF COTABATO CITY MEDIA GROUP, MINDANAO EXPOSE’) 

COTABATO CITY – Authorities here have doubled their efforts in monitoring the entry of smuggled items, particularly cigarettes, being sneaked into the city lately before its distribution to the provinces of Maguindanao and North Cotabato.

“We managed to intercept two deliveries of smuggled cigarettes the past two days using this city as a transshipment point,” Col. Richard Fiesta, city police director, told reporters Wednesday, December 9.

This came after Marine troopers intercepted on Tuesday afternoon, December 8, 15 boxes of smuggled New Berlin and Royal Rania cigarette brands aboard a commuter van in Barangay Biniruan.

Fiesta said two suspected smugglers, Adin Musa Piang, 41, driver, and Esmael Gampong Abubakar, 41, were arrested after failing to present appropriate documents for their cargo.

“The two were on their way to Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao when intercepted at the Marine checkpoint,” he said of the suspects currently held at the city police detention facility.

The Marines handed over the seized cigarette boxes to the police, which in turn forwarded it to the local customs office for proper value assessment and custody.

On Monday, December 7, authorities also intercepted an estimated P15-million worth of smuggled cigarettes loaded on a motorboat along Tamontaka River in Barangay Kalanganan.

At least 10 suspects were arrested as they were all on board the motorboat together with some 500 boxes of smuggled cigarette items that allegedly came from Basilan.

Cotabato City is crisscrossed by tributaries of two big rivers, the Tamontaka River and the Rio Grande de Mindanao. (NOEL PUNZALAN, PNA, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)