PCG: The Philippine Coast Guard in General Santos City have prevented the entry of smuggled goods from Indonesia during a seaborne patrol operations it conducted off the waters of Glan, Sarangani Province.

Coast Guard Station (CGS) Gensan apprehended the three Filipino and three Indonesian crew of fishing boat Hasrat after a tip was received last Saturday that it was transporting smuggled goods from Indonesia.

The PCG sighted Hasrat being towed by local fishing boat Rodrice off Sumbang Point. The boat apparently encountered engine trouble while enroute to General Santos.

Shipboard inspection revealed that two sacks containing 92 rims of Indonesian cigarettes were hidden at the forecastle of Hasrat without Customs Permit. The Garam cigarettes has an estimated market value of P73,600.

The three Indonesian crews also failed to show their documentations.

The Indonesian crews were turned-over to the acting Alien Control Officer of the Bureau of Immigration, Glan Field Office for proper custody. Meanwhile, the Filipino crews were turned-over to the local PNP while the fishing boat was detained by CGS Gensan.

The confiscated smuggled items were turned-over by Coast Guard Sub-Station (CGSS) Glan to the Bureau of Customs Region 12.