THE Philippine Coastguard (PCG) has apprehended a shipment of P33 million smuggled rice and other products aboard on two vessels off Basilan province, a PCG official said Monday, August 27, 2018.
The apprehension came as the PCG, in partnership with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), has strengthened the anti-smuggling campaign in the southern part of the Philippines.
Lieutenant Commander Noriel Ramos, Zamboanga Coastguard Station commander, said personnel aboard BRP-Cape San Agustin were conducting seaborne patrol when they spotted two wooden-hulled vessels, M/L Overseas and M/L Nadeepa, around 4 p.m. Saturday in the vicinity of Tamuk Island, Basilan province.
Ramos said the two vessels--M/L Overseas and M/L Nadeepa--were steaming towards Maluso, Basilan province when intercepted by the BRP-Cape San Agustin.
Ramos said the skippers and crew failed to present pertinent documents when the BRP-Cape San Agustin conducted on board inspection on the two vessels.
Ramos said M/L Overseas is skippered by Berdasher Usman and is owned and operated by Hadji Sukarno Usman, a resident of the village of Lamion, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
He said M/L Overseas is loaded with 10,000 sacks of rice of 25 kilos each, refined sugar, and 1,000 boxes of noodles.
He said that M/L Nadeepa is skippered by Hayatulla Dahim and owned and operated by Hadja Nancy Aharadji of the village of Sta. Catalina, this city.
He said M/L Nadeepa is loaded with 12,000 bags of rice of 25 kilos each.
He said the two vessels loaded with contraband were escorted to this city for proper turn over to the BOC. (SunStar Philippines)