DAVAO CITY (August 29)— The Philippine Coast GuardSouth West Mindanao intercepted a total of 22,000 sacks of smuggled rice at the vicinity waters off Tamuk Island, Basilan last Friday, August 24.
In a report, the PCG stated that Zamboanga stated packs of smuggled rice were loaded in two vessels, M/L “Overseas” and M/L “Nadeepa”.
The team sighted M/L “Overseas” while conducting Maritime Patrol around 04:00PM and immediately they boarded the vessel and found out 10,000 bags of smuggled rice without any pertinent documents.
At about 04:20PM, the team spotted another vessel, M/L “Nadeepa” at the vicinity waters off West of Maluso, Basilan. The Coast Guard team boarded the vessel and discovered 12,000 packs of smuggled rice onboard.
Both vessels were apprehended and escorted to Zamboanga City Port for proper turn over to the local Bureau of Customs officials for proper disposition.-Jiann A. Padillo/NewsLine.ph
