Navy seizes P12.7-M smuggled rice off Tawi-Tawi

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 20, 2022): Navy seizes P12.7-M smuggled rice off Tawi-Tawi (By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.)

ILLEGAL. Personnel of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) and Bureau of Customs inspect the smuggled rice the NFWM operatives had seized near Papahag Island, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi on Monday (June 19, 2023). The NFWM team was on patrol when they chanced upon a wooden-hulled vessel loaded with 6,000 bags of rice worth PHP12.7 million. (Photo courtesy of NFWM)

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Operatives of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) have seized some PHP12.7 million worth of smuggled rice off Tawi-Tawi, a top NFWM official said Tuesday.

Rear Adm. Donn Anthony Miraflor, NFWM commander, said the shipment of smuggled rice was intercepted Monday around 670 yards (0.61 km) north of Papahag Island, Tawi-Tawi.

Miraflor said the troops were on patrol at Chongos Bay, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi when they chanced upon a wooden-hulled vessel marked MV Katrina V, found to be loaded with 6,000 sacks of rice when inspected.

The undocumented 6,000 sacks of rice of 25 kilos each came from Malaysia and are worth PHP12.7 million, he said.

Miraflor said MV Katrina V, its crew, and the cargo were escorted to the Chinese Pier in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, and turned over to the Bureau of Customs.

Miraflor did not identify the owner of the smuggled rice, who is allegedly based in this city.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203925