ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 22 -- The Naval Command Western Mindanao (NCWM) has turned over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday some P234.3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes recently seized off Zamboanga Sibugay.

Rear Admiral Constancio Arturo Reyes Jr., NCWM commander, said in a statement on Wednesday that the confiscated contraband consisted of 1,491 master cases of assorted foreign brands of cigarettes.

Reyes said the smuggled cigarettes were seized during a maritime law enforcement operation on July 19 in the waters off Lutangan Island, Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay.

"The seizure disrupted a large-scale smuggling operation that threatens government revenues, legitimate commerce, and the security of Western Mindanao's maritime route...