THE Philippine Navy, through the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Navforwem), intercepted Friday some P12-million shipment of smuggled rice near Basilan province, the military said Saturday, July 13.

Rear Admiral Erick Kagaoan, Navforwem commander, said the shipment of smuggled riced was intercepted Friday in the vicinity of Lampinigan Island, Basilan province.

Kagaoan said the Naval Special Operation Unit 6 (NavSOU6) personnel of the Naval Task Force 61 were conducting maritime security patrol when they spotted a wooden-hulled vessel, M/V Indah Jehan, steaming to Zamboanga City.

He said investigation showed the vessel with 10-man crew came from Labuan, Sabah, Malaysia and was loaded with some 10,000 sacks of rice worth P12 million with no importation documents.

The Navforwem commander said the M/V Indah Jehan was escorted to Ensign Majini Pier at the Naval Station Romulo Espaldon in Zamboanga City for proper documentation and eventual turnover to the Bureau of Customs.

He said the successful foiling of the importation of smuggled rice is a result of an intensified naval presence and focused maritime patrol of the Philippine Navy in support to the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) operations.

He added that the Philippine Navy through the Navforwem will remain vigilant in the conduct of its mandated task to deter threat groups and lawless elements in its area of operation to accomplish the mission of Westmincom. (SunStar Philippines)