Navy intercepts 3,000 sacks of smuggled rice

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines - The Philippine Navy has intercepted another shipment of smuggled rice in the vicinity of an island near this port city, an official said Tuesday.

Rear Admiral Jesus Millan, commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM), said  naval patrol craft spotted M/V T” Rossada V steaming suspiciously in the waters near Sta. Cruz Island last Friday night.

The naval elements intercepted the vessel and upon inspection, discovered 3,000 sacks of rice branded AAA.

Millan said the crew of the vessel could not present pertinent documents for the rice shipment.

He said the vessel was manned by a skipper and 6 crewmen believed to have come from Sulu and was bound for this city.

Investigations showed that the rice shipment was owned by a certain Hadji Akkap Samindara.

Based on the assessment of the Bureau of Custom (BoC), the cargo's estimated market value was P2.4 million.

The rice shipment and the vessel with its skipper and crewmen were turned over to the BoC for proper disposition and investigation.