AN ESTIMATED P50 million worth of smuggled rice shipment was intercepted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) while on maritime patrol in the Sulu sea, an official said Saturday, November 17.

Lieutenant Commander Noriel Ramos, Zamboanga Coast Guard Station commander, said the vessel, M/V Hulk loaded with some 50,000 bags of rice of 25 kilos each, was intercepted by the BRP-Cape San Agustin (MRRV-4408) around 8 a.m. Thursday, November 15, anchored south of Buland Island, Sulu.

Ramos said the PCG personnel spotted M/V Hulk while verifying reports of the Customs Intelligence Zamboanga and other intelligence units that a cargo vessel was seen near Tongkil, Sulu.

He said M/V Hulk, which came from Cagayan de Oro, was found to be loaded with rice without pertinent documents when the BRP-Case San Agustin personnel boarded and inspected the cargo vessel.

The commander said the members of board and search team were surprised to learn from the crew of M/V Hulk that the shipmaster and the officers have disembarked the ship and headed towards nearby island and “they have no knowledge of their whereabouts.”

He said the Coast Guard District South Western Mindanao command deployed the BRP-Bagacay (MRRV-4410) to augment the security in the area due to the prevailing high risk security situation in Tongkil.

Ramos said the two PCG vessels towed M/V Hulk as “the PCG engineering personnel exhausted all efforts to revive the main engine but to no avail” when PCG specialized personnel operated the vessel, which developed mechanical defect while sailing to Zamboanga City.

He added M/V Hulk arrived arrived and docked at a private wharf in this city at 3:50 a.m. Saturday.

The vessel is being guarded by the MRRV-4408 and MRRV-4410 while waiting for inspection by the Bureau of Customs. (SunStar Philippines)