Tuesday, October 17, 2006
200 kilos of bomb chemicals seized in Zamboanga (1:35 p.m.)
By Al Jacinto
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Philippine authorities detained three men linked to the smuggling Tuesday of 200 kilos of high-grade French ammonium nitrate, used by local terrorists in the manufacture of homemade bombs, in the southern port city of Zamboanga, officials said.
Policemen, backed by soldiers, intercepted the shipment from a Filipino ferry, m/v Nickel Princely that came from Jolo island, where troops are battling members of the al-Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group.
"We have intelligence report about this shipment and security forces had been alerted about the arrival of the ship. We are still investigating whether this cargo is owned by the Abu Sayyaf or Jemaah Islamiya. We also have intelligence reports that a shipment of ammunition is also on its way to Zamboanga from Jolo," said Major Frank Clavecillas, the port police commander.
Police and military interrogators were questioning the three men, a truck driver and two others who claimed the cargo at the port. "We are still investigating them; about the links to the chemical," said Inspector Abner Santos, of the regional maritime police.
The ammonium nitrate, marked "Made in France," were in eight bags hidden underneath fish crates. Soldiers were spotted searching the ship's cargo bay and interviewing crewmembers and several passengers.
It was also the first time that authorities had seized ammonium nitrate that was manufactured in France and smuggled into Jolo. Most of previous shipments of ammonium nitrate were manufactured in Malaysia and Indonesia. (Sunnex) |
