Smuggled rice seized off Zamboanga

MANILA, Philippines — Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) intercepted a boat loaded with suspected smuggled rice in the waters off Zamboanga yesterday.

The BRP Malabrigo was on patrol along the Zamboanga Channel when it spotted M/L Sabrina heading for Zamboanga City at around 4 p.m.

“We inspected the boat and discovered it was transporting smuggled rice,” Capt. Charlie Rances, chief of Malabrigo, said.

Rances said the boat captain and 10 crewmembers could not present documents for their cargo.

He said the vessel came from Sandakan in Malaysia and was believed to be planning to enter the city by dusk to avoid detection.

The PCG escorted the Sabrina to the port of Zamboanga City for documentation and inventory of the seized items.