MANILA, Philippines - At least P126 million worth of rice suspected to have been smuggled from Malaysia was seized by government authorities in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental last Friday.
The sacks of rice were loaded on motor launch M/L Al-Althie, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Cebu district chief Enrico Eric Evangelista said.
The vessel was intercepted based on a tip that it was carrying 9,000 sacks of imported rice and other items. The vessel’s 11 Filipino crewmembers failed to show documents for the shipment.
Aside from the PCG, the operation was conducted by personnel of the Naval Forces Central, Bureau of Customs (BOC), and the National Food Authority.
The Al-Althie was reportedly owned and operated by Hadji Abdul Nuh of Sta. Barbara, Zamboanga City.
“The vessel will be held while its crew will remain on board until all documents are presented,” Evangelista said.
Authorities took the vessel to the Port of Dumaguete. They have started unloading the shipment, which would be stored at the BOC-Dumaguete warehouse for safekeeping.
In Zamboanga City, police and military authorities seized suspected smuggled cigarettes and rice in separate operations last Friday.
Ninety boxes of imported cigarettes were loaded in a truck that was about to leave the compound of the Philippine Ports Authority here, said Superintendent Ariel Huesca, chief of the city police’s public safety company.
Meanwhile, military troopers seized 1,000 sacks of rice in Barangay Arena Blanco. The sacks of rice were in a van driven by a certain Richard Itum.
The driver and his seven helpers failed to present pertinent documents for their cargo.
The sacks of rice were turned over to the BOC.