ZAMBOANGA CITY, Dec. 2 -- The police confiscated some P158.2 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in a series of law enforcement operations in Zamboanga Peninsula in November, an official said Tuesday.

Police Regional Office-9 Director Brig. Gen. Edwin Quilates said they arrested 25 individuals in 11 coordinated operations across the region last month.

"The series of successful operations in November strengthened our ardor to protect the region's economic borders and uphold the rule of law," Quilates said in a news release.

The PRO-9 area of responsibility includes Zamboanga del Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur, and the cities of Zamboanga and Isabela in Basilan.

"We will continue to collaborate closely with the Bure...