Zamboanga City village exec yields firearms, contraband cigarettes

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – A councilman of Barangay Zone 4 in Zamboanga City was arrested on Friday, Sept. 4, after police operatives seized assorted firearms, ammunition, tactical gear and nearly P3 million worth of smuggled cigarettes during a dawn raid in Barangay Putik, also in the city.

Authorities only described the suspect as a 38-year-old man. He was arrested at around 3 a.m. following the execution of Search Warrant No. 2026-06 issued by Executive Judge Gregorio Dela Peña III of the Regional Trial Court Branch 12 in Zamboanga City for unauthorized possession of firearms.

The warrant was served by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s Zamboanga City Field Unit, backed by Task Force Zamboanga, the 55th Special Action Company, 5th Special Action Battalion and the Divisoria Police Station. 

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Recovered during the search were a 9mm pistol carbine, a .45-caliber pistol, magazines, live ammunition and tactical gear. 

In addition, operatives discovered 20 master cases of suspected contraband cigarettes valued at P2,994,442.50, believed to have been transported without proper documentation. The contraband was seized under Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, pending verification by concerned agencies.

The suspect was brought to the CIDG office for documentation and detention. The firearms, ammunition, tactical gear and cigarettes were placed under police custody for proper disposition and filing of charges.

The raid formed part of Oplan Megashoppers, a continuing campaign against smuggling and illegal possession of firearms in Zamboanga Peninsula. INQ /mr