The Philippine Coast Guard Zamboanga Station officially turned-over yesterday afternoon to the Bureau of Customs the apprehended vessel which was caught by coast guard personnel off the high seas of Southern Philippines carrying smuggled goods from the Malaysian border.

Coast Guard District South Western Mindanao (CGDSWM) Commander Captain Joseph Coyme along with Zamboanga Station chief Lieutenant Commander Noriel Ramos handed over to Zamboanga Customs Collector Atty Lyceo Martinez the pertinent documents relative to the turn-over of M/V Fatima Shakira to their custody for proper disposition and the possible filing of appropriate charges in court to the ship operator and the consignee of the smuggled goods.

Similarly, Captain Coyme and Lieutenant Commander Ramos also handed some 1,642 sacks of imported white sugar which was confiscated inside the said vessel.

“This official turn over signifies the proper procedure and handling of all confiscated items from our custody to the proper authority which is the Bureau of Customs as a sign of our unified campaign against all forms of smuggling here in Southern Philippines,” Coyme said.

Captain Coyme also revealed that this will not be the last, but only the beginning of the intensified campaign in all violators of the anti-smuggling law, which is one of their added tasks aside from their usual job of ensuring safety of all seafarers in their jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, Atty. Martinez also lauded CGDSWM for its relentless efforts to address such problem and in helping the BOC in their serious campaign on smuggling.