ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 24 -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) seized PHP7.1 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in an anti-smuggling operation on the west coast of this city on Thursday afternoon.

In a report on Friday, the Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao (CGDSWM) said the contraband was seized along the shoreline of Barangay Cawit.

The CGDSWM said its personnel launched the anti-smuggling operation after receiving an intelligence report that suspected smuggled cigarettes were being unloaded from a motorboat along the shore of the village.

No one was arrested as the smuggled cigarettes were abandoned by their supposed owner or shipper upon noticing the presence of authorities in the area.

"Upon approach of Coast Guard person...