ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Philippine Coastguard (PCG) on Thursday turned over the confiscated PHP3.2 million smuggled sugar to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in this city.
The turnover came after PCG completed the inventory of the contraband it intercepted aboard M/B Fatima Shakira Sunday evening, hours after the Zamboanga Coastguard Station received an information that a ship loaded with smuggled sugar is set to arrive here.
Capt. Joseph Coyme, Coastguard District Southwestern Mindanao commander, and Lt. Commander Noriel Ramos, Zamboanga Coastguard Station commander, spearheaded the turnover of the 1,642 sacks of smuggled sugar weighing 50 kilos each, including the wooden-hulled vessel, for proper disposition and filing of charges.
The contraband and the vessel was received by Lawyer Lyceo Martinez, district collector of the BOC in this city.
“This official turn over signifies the proper procedure and handling of all confiscated items from our custody to the proper authority, which is the Bureau of Customs as a sign of our unified campaign against all forms of smuggling here in Southern Philippines,” Coyme said.
The confiscation of the smuggled sugar came as the government intensified its anti-smuggling campaign in this part of the country.
Martinez lauded the PCG for its relentless efforts in helping the BOC address the problem on smuggling here. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
