Navy seizes P24.3 million smuggled items off Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Navy men have intercepted three motorboats found loaded with smuggled cigarettes, petroleum and chemicals worth P24.3 million in the waters off Sulu last week, officials reported yesterday.

Members of the Naval Task Force 61 initially intercepted M/B JFM, which was found carrying  700 master cases of smuggled cigarettes worth P14 million off the coast of Pangutaran town.

Rear Admiral Donn Anthony Miraflor, Naval Forces Western Mindanao commander, said an M653 carbine rifle, a caliber .45 pistol and bullets were also seized from the boat.

Miraflor said M/L Somewhere, which came from Palawan, was found loaded with petroleum products and 164 sacks of ammonium nitrate.

The M/L Fatima was found to be carrying 100,000 liters of undocumented petroleum products with an estimated value of P6.5 million. The boat came from Mapun Island in Tawi-Tawi.

Miraflor said the vessels and their crewmembers were escorted by Navy men and turned over to the custody of the Bureau of Customs.