Smugglers slip out of Ilocos port

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines – The crew of a Taiwanese fishing vessel held for smuggling over 2,000 boxes of branded cigarettes last November slipped out of the Currimao port in Ilocos Norte Saturday.

Town police chief Senior Inspector Ryan Retotar ordered an investigation of the incident involving the boat’s captain, Chen Yonji Ji, and his six crewmembers.

Retotar said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) discovered the incident at around 3 a.m.

The vessel and its crewmembers have been in the custody of the Bureau of Customs since November after a warrant of seizure and detention was issued against them.

The PCG seized the vessel for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country cigarettes from Europe and China.

The boxes of cigarettes, allegedly consigned to Bumijaya Enterprises, were wrapped in garbage bags.

Authorities are still investigating the incident.