The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has confiscated P625,000 worth of allegedly smuggled cigarettes loaded in a watercraft while four of its crew members were apprehended in an operation in Lamitan City, Basilan, it said on Friday, Aug. 6.
The PCG Station Basih-Balan disclosed that it received an intelligence report about a certain vessel, MPB Kumalah, which was found carrying undocumented cargoes while travelling in the coastal community of Barangay Matibay last Aug. 2.
PCG Station Basih-Balan Commander Havelino Salih said they immediately launched anti-smuggling operations which led to the confiscation of 16 boxes of smuggled cigarettes found on the boat with an estimated market value of P625,000.
The Coast Guard’s vessel safety enforcement inspection (VSEI) team also discovered that the boat has valid vessel certificates, however, it lacked proper markings.
The PCG said it was a violation of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Memorandum Circular Number 2017 – 001 concerning the Coast Guard’s implementation of Safety, Security, and Environmental Numbering (SSEN) System.
The authorities apprehended the four unidentified crew members, who were found unloading the cargoes.
Personnel of the PCG Station Basih-Balan, K9 team, and Lamitan maritime police turned over the smuggled cargoes to the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for documentation.
Meanwhile, the boat remained under the custody of the PCG Station Basih-Balan while the the filing of appropriate charges against the suspects were on-going.