Manila, Aug. 2 -- Authorities have arrested an individual and seized about PHP1.4 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during a law enforcement operation Saturday afternoon in Zamboanga Sibugay province.

In a statement Sunday, Col. Barnard Danie Dasugo, Zamboanga Sibugay police director, said an adult male suspect was arrested in Barangay Makila, Ipil, the province's capital town.

Dasugo said the anti-smuggling operation was launched after the operatives received an intelligence report about the shipment of smuggled cigarettes in Ipil.

"Confiscated were 24 master cases of Pragon cigarettes, with a Bureau of Customs (BOC) standard price of PHP1,375,200," Dasugo said in his report.

The arrested individual and the confiscated items were ...