ZAMBOANGA CITY — Authorities have intercepted an estimated P2 million worth of smuggled rice shipment in this city, an official disclosed Saturday.
Lt. Commander Alvin Dagalea, Zamboanga Coastguard Station commander, said the shipment was intercepted at around 9:35 p.m. Friday 300 yards off Taha wharf in Barangay Baliwasan, this city.
Dagalea said the smuggled rice shipment was loaded aboard M/L Fatima and M/B Rajena when it was intercepted by joint team of personnel from Coastguard, Joint Task Force Zamboanga and Bureau of Customs (BOC).
Dagalea said they were on patrol when BOC personnel called and informed them that there is an arriving shipment of smuggled rice.
He immediately coordinated with the Joint Task Force Zamboanga, who backed them when they intercepted the rice shipment.
He said the rice shipment came from Bongao, Tawi-Tawi but ownership of the cargo has yet to be ascertained.
He said the M/L Fatima and M/B Rajena were taken to the local port.
He said that initial on board inspection on the two water crafts yielded numerous maritime safety violations.
But he said no explosive and narcotic products were found by the K9 unit aboard the two water crafts. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
