ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) turned over to the Bureau of Customs yesterday 5,000 bags of smuggled sugar worth P10 million, which were recently seized from a boat off Tawi-Tawi.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña, who led the inspection of the smuggled sugar at the Philippine Ports Authority pier, said a PCG vessel towed M/L Sabrina from Mapun island to this city.
Capt. Joseph Coyme, PCG-Southwestern district commander, said M/L Sabrina was found drifting in the vicinity of the island by PCG personnel who responded to a distress call from a cargo vessel.
Initial investigation showed M/L Sabrina came from Sabah, Malaysia.
“The boat captain showed a manifest that the boat was carrying 6,000 bags... However, to keep the boat afloat they dropped almost a thousand bags,” Coyme said.