MANILA: The Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Philippine Navy seized 131,000 sacks of imported rice valued at P100 million as well as various high-powered guns from a foreign ship and several other boats in Pata Island, Sulu.
Customs Deputy Commissioner Jessie Dellosa said the cargo vessel M/V An Bien-89-ALCI was seized at 3:25 am Monday, February 23. The operation was led by the Naval Task Uni-Naval Forces Mindanao.
Dellosa said, “They seized the vessel carrying around 116,000 sacks of imported rice from Vietnam and arrested the 16-man Vietnamese crew together with the ship captain.”
Also seized were 3 local boats loaded with imported rice which came from the ship: ML/KH with 7,000 sacks or rice; M/L Fatima Numina with 1,000 sacks of rice; and M/L Boy 1 with 7,000 sacks of rice.
The seized firearms include: 7 M-14 rifles, 3 M16 rifles, and 2 grenade launchers from M/L Fatima Numina and M/L Boy 1.
“The four vessels were escorted under heavy security by the Philippine Navy,” Dellosa said. “[They] were properly turned over to the Bureau of Customs in Zamboanga City for processing and filing of charges including the issuance of the warrant of seizure and detention,” he added.
“The Vietnamese vessel manifest showed some 152,000 sacks were consigned to the Sunrise Ship and Trading Company. We however recovered around 131,000 sacks.
