ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao (CGDSWM) seized another shipment of smuggled rice and other products worth at least PHP33 million aboard two vessels, an official said Monday.
Lt. Commander Noriel Ramos, Zamboanga Coast Guard Station commander, said the two wooden-hulled vessels -- M/L Overseas and M/L Nadeepa -- were intercepted around 4 p.m. Saturday in the vicinity of Tamuk Island, Basilan province.
Ramos said the BRP-Cape San Agustin (MRRV-4408) was conducting seaborne patrol when it spotted the two vessels sailing to the direction of Maluso, Basilan province.
Ramos said the skippers and crew failed to present pertinent documents when the BRP-Cape San Agustin conducted on board inspection of the two vessels.
Ramos said M/L Overseas, skippered by Berdasher Usman and is owned and operated by Hadji Sukarno Usman of Tawi-Tawi province, is loaded with 10,000 sacks of rice of 25 kilos each, refined sugar, and 1,000 boxes of noodles.
M/L Nadeepa, skippered by Hayatulla Dahim and owned and operated by Hadja Nancy Aharadji of this city, is loaded with 12,000 bags of rice of 25 kilos each.
Ramos said the two vessels loaded with contraband were escorted to this city for proper turn over to the Bureau of Customs (BOC).
BOC Commissioner Isidro Lapeña is arriving on Tuesday in this city to receive the confiscated smuggled goods, to be turned over to him by Capt. Joseph Coyme, CGDSWM commander.
Coyme said CGDSWM has intensified the anti-smuggling campaign to prevent the entry of goods without payment of customs tariff. (PNA)
