By Liza Soriano
MANILA — A joint operation led by the Naval Forces Western Mindanao Command (NFWMC) successfully intercepted a van filled with smuggled red onions and one watercraft filled with the same contraband, bags of imported red onions in Varadero de Cawit, Brgy. Cawit, Zamboanga City recently.
Working together with the Philippine Coast Guard, Marine Battalion Landing Team-11, the Intelligence Operatives of Western Mindanao, JTF Zamboanga, and the Bureau of Customs District Zamboanga, the NFWMC successfully intercepted one Isuzu close van loaded with more or less 3,000 bags of smuggled red onions.
Likewise, another watercraft marked as “MJ MARISA,” was also seized as it was loaded with more or less 8,000 mesh bags of the same items without proper documents.
Each bag accordingly weighs four kilos, which sums up to approximately 44,000 kilos of smuggled onions that were seized.
Meanwhile, a watercraft named “ML ZHARY” was also apprehended by the operatives.
It was eventually found to be loaded with more or less 300 drums of smuggled petroleum, oil, and lubricant (POL) products after it was subjected to Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) by the joint elements in the vicinity of Barangay Cawit.
The involved vehicle, watercraft, and smuggled items were confiscated and undergoing inventory before their turnover to the appropriate agency for proper disposition.
This accomplishment is part of Naval Forces Western Mindanao and Western Mindanao Command`s strong resolve and commitment to assist other government agencies and LGUs in their campaign to eradicate smuggling and other illegal activities in the region. (Amado Inigo/MTVN)
