500 blasting caps intercepted

BUTUAN CITY — Authorities seized some 500 blasting caps at the Nasipit International Seaport yesterday.

The Nasipit Port Police investigators led by Lt. Nicanor Bagon and Lt. Froilan Caturla said the blasting caps, enough to produce over 2,000 explosive devices, were found among the cargo that was to be loaded onto the M/V Manila, an hour before it was to leave port for Manila.

Police said the blasting caps were being passed off as cartons of fruit juice.

Caturla claimed the bomb materials were found among the cargo, which was left outside the departure gate by still unidentified men.

Although no witnesses saw the deadly cargo being unloaded into the ship, Caturla added it was an apparent attempt by the suspects to avoid the newly acquired x-ray machine installed at the gate.

The port police chief Nicanor Bagon said they have turned over the bomb materials to the Caraga Police Regional Explosive and Ordnance Office. — Ben Serrano