(Photo courtesy of PNP)
MANILA – Authorities arrested 10 suspected fuel smugglers and seized PHP3.3 million worth of smuggled gasoline in an operation in Tawi-Tawi earlier this week.
Citing reports from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group, PNP Officer-in-Charge Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar on Saturday identified the suspects as Saldi Sali, Kads Abdulmajid, Tanong Sali, Asri Tuwad, Pepe Madyusof, Totoh Poteh Abdulgafur, Raki Idris, Moktaden Daud, Toy Iya, and Puwa Idris, all residents of Tandubas, Tawi-Tawi.
They were arrested in Barangay Parang Pantay, Languyan, Tawi-Tawi at about 5 p.m. on Thursday after being spotted by police operatives patrolling near the seashore.
At the time, the suspects were aboard a yellow motorboat that quickly sped off after seeing the police officers, resulting in a brief chase.
"The team chased the motorboat and stopped them, thereafter conducted proper boarding procedures and confirmed that the vessel has gasoline on drums onboard and other various goods with no pertinent documents," Eleazar said.
The suspects yielded 400 drums of gasoline. (PNA)
