Friday, June 29, 2007 Navy tracks down 11,000-kilo chemical shipment By Bong Garcia
TROOPS from the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Navforwesmin) are tracking down the whereabouts of a large volume of bomb-making component that was recently shipped to the island province of Tawi-Tawi.
The shipment was discovered when forces from the Naval Task Force 62 headed by Colonel Franco Pan intercepted three vessels last weekend while patrolling the waters of Tawi-Tawi province.
Pan said they have impounded one of the vessels after it was discovered that among its cargo was 220 sacks of ammonium nitrate aside from other contraband items based on the vessel's bill of lading.
The volume of the ammonium nitrate shipment is estimated to reach as much as 11,000 kilos since each sack weigh 50 kilos.
Pan disclosed that the ammonium nitrate is no longer aboard the vessel when they intercepted the vessel along with two others in Tawi-Tawi.
Ammonium nitrate is a colorless crystalline solid that is use as a fertilizer and in herbicides, insecticides, and explosives.
Pan said over a local television station the three vessels were bound for Tandubas municipality coming from the island town of Sitangkai when intercepted.
The two other vessels were released since no contrabands were found on board.
Pan said he ordered his men to track down and seized the shipment of ammonium nitrate to prevent it from reaching the hands of the local terrorists.
Government authorities have found traces of ammonium nitrate in previous bombings perpetrated by local terrorists in the different parts of the country.
The Navforwesmin headed by Rear Admiral Emilio Marayag has intensified patrol at sea to prevent the escape of foreign and local terrorists being pursued in nearby Sulu province.
