Manila, April 2 -- Authorities arrested three people and seized smuggled cigarettes worth more than PHP2.8 million in an anti-smuggling operation here, police said Wednesday.

Col. Melvin Laguros, chief of the Regional Maritime Unit-9 (RMU-9), said the contraband was discovered around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at a storage facility of a private cargo firm in Barangay Baliwasan.

The suspects were identified as Joveven Tanaza, 38, the driver; Jerome Solaiman, 31, a truck helper; and Darrel Januarius Wee, 42, a checker.

Laguros said they received an intelligence report indicating that a shipment of smuggled cigarettes was expected to arrive at the cargo firm's facility in the village.

"Operating elements were strategically positioned in the compo...