January 07, 2015
ABS CBN News
By Raiza Dapilin and Jewel Reyes
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- More than a 1,000 sacks of alleged smuggled sugar were confiscated by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Barangay Bolong in Zamboanga City on Tuesday.
Based on initial investigation, the ship ML Ylaiza Maye V was sighted by police in Barangay Bolong and was intercepted.
The vessel was moved to the Zamboanga City Port, where law enforcement units made an inventory of its cargo.
According to PCG, there were 1,146 sacks of sugar, each containing at least 50 kilos, inside the vessel.
Station commander of the PCG-Zamboanga City, Lieutenant Jomark Angue said his men were instructed to guard and secure the vessel upon turnover of the alleged contraband to the Bureau of Customs.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) also brought K-9 units to also inspect possible other contraband such as narcotics and other prohibited items.
However, the local government complained that it took 12 hours for the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to act on the confiscation.
Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabel Climaco noted that the PCG, PNP, and even the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) waited several hours to conduct investigation for possible other contraband inside the vessel.
The official added that as per information relayed to her from the head office, there has been no order lifting the suspension in Zamboanga Peninsula, particularly in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi, to allow importation of sugar.
Climaco also told the Customs officials that there is a procedural lapse in confiscation of smuggled goods in Zamboanga, knowing that this was not been the first time that smuggled items have been apprehended.
ABS-CBN Zamboanga tried to interview the alleged owner of the smuggled items, but he refused, asking for his name not to be mentioned.
He said, however, that he has paid for taxes in Tawi-tawi for the sugar and denied that they are smuggled.
The motorized vessel docked in Sangali port for the crew members to purchase food supplies and water, but it was apprehended instead.
Reference: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/01/07/15/sacks-sugar-seized-za...