Coast Guard intercepts ship carrying smuggled rice

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard intercepted an undocumented cargo ship and seized P125 million in smuggled rice in the waters off Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay, an official said.

 

Capt. Ronnie Gil Gavan, commander of PCG Southwestern Mindanao District, said his unit was on tracking maritime patrol when they intercepted MV J-Phia, an 80-footer cargo ship some 25 nautical miles southwest of Olutanga on Sunday evening.

 

He said the Coast Guard became suspicious when the cargo ship turned off its radar.

 

"So our personnel suspected something was anomalous that prompted them to intercept the ship," Gavan said.

 

He said coast guard personnel immediately boarded the ship and conducted an inspection that led to the discovery of about 48,000 to 50,000 50-kilogram sacks of smuggled rice marked ‘Asahi.’

 

He said the ship and its crewmen did not have the necessary permits, which prompted the coast guard to conduct further inspection.

 

Gavan said the cargo ship was escorted to port by BRP Tubbataha. The vessels arrived in Zamboanga City on Monday morning.

 

He said coast guard personnel believe some of the smuggled rice had already been offloaded through ship-to-ship transfer.

 

The smuggled rice will be tallied before being turned over to the Bureau of Customs.

 

Charges are being readied against the owner of MV J-Phia for sailing without the proper documents.