By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities have seized an estimated worth of PHP197.2 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in two days of operations within the area of Western Mindanao Naval Command (WMNC), an official said Wednesday.
“Units of WMNC, operating under Naval Task Force 61, successfully conducted two maritime interdiction operations on Tuesday and Wednesday, resulting in the apprehension of two vessels transporting undocumented foreign cigarettes within the Western Mindanao Area of Operations,” Rear Adm. Constancio Arturo Reyes Jr., commander of WMNC, said in his report.
On Wednesday morning, Reyes said naval personnel intercepted a motorboat marked M/B Skyblue southeast of Sibago Island, Basilan province.
Inspection revealed some 460 master cases of foreign-brand cigarettes, valued at around PHP26.2 million.
“The boat captain and crew were unable to present valid documentation for the vessel and cargo,” Reyes said, adding that the motorboat and its cargo were brought to WMNC headquarters in this city.
A day earlier, naval personnel intercepted a vessel named M/V Sun Voyage off Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat.
Reyes said upon boarding and inspection, the vessel was found to be carrying 3,000 master cases of imported cigarettes worth PHP171 million.
He said the cigarettes were seized after the vessel’s skipper failed to present importation permits and cargo clearances.
He said the vessel, crew and cargo were escorted to the WMNC headquarters.
Reyes emphasized that both operations were conducted in accordance with established maritime law enforcement protocols and relevant national laws addressing smuggling and illegal trade. (PNA)
