ZAMBOANGA CITY, Oct. 24 -- About PHP6.8 million worth of smuggled cigarettes were seized in separate law enforcement operations in this city, authorities reported Friday.

Of the total confiscation, PHP5.3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes were seized by the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO) on Thursday, and the remaining PHP1.5 million by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on the same day.

Col. Fidel Fortaleza Jr., ZCPO director, said the PHP5.3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes was seized in a raid at a warehouse in Omar Drive, Barangay Talon-Talon.

"No one was arrested as the owner or caretaker of the warehouse fled upon sensing the arriving policemen," Fortaleza said in his report.

Seized from the warehouse were 355 master ca...