Troops intercept boat loaded with smuggled goods in Sulu

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 2): Troops intercept boat loaded with smuggled goods in Sulu

The naval component of the Joint Task Group Sulu (JTGS) on Tuesday intercepted and apprehended a wooden-hulled vessel loaded with smuggled goods off the coast of Pangutaran, Sulu.

Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, JTGS commander, said the vessel, M/L Rossada V, was intercepted around 7:20 a.m. Tuesday at 6.1 nautical miles northwest of Panducan Island, Pangutaran, Sulu.

Arrojado said the Navy personnel aboard Patrol Gunboat-395 (PG-395) were on seaborne patrol in the vicinity 4.7 nautical miles southeast of Panducan Island when they monitored a “suspicious watercraft bound for Jolo.”

According to him, the PG-395 intercepted M/L Rossada which is loaded with undetermined amount of cargoes during an on-board inspection.

He said the PG-395 personnel coordinated with other law enforcement agencies and then brought the vessel to the Jolo pier for proper boarding proceedings and disposition.

He said the naval component of the JTGS is continuously conducting seaborne patrol to block the passage of lawless elements such as smugglers.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=853188