PCG: More than two million pesos worth of undocumented cigarettes onboard a cargo vessel were confiscated by the Philippine Coast Guard, along with a joint apprehending intelligence group in Zamboanga last Friday, March 27. 

A search and seizure order was issued by the Bureau of Customs to the joint apprehending team to inspect the cargo hold of MV Trishia Kerstin 2 where an estimated market value of Php 2,225,000 of assorted Malaysian tobacco were found hidden in a container van onboard. 

Reports revealed that 277 cases of Astro, Rox, Fort and Marlboro cigarettes were discovered by the joint apprehending team beneath cargoes of copras (dried coconut kernels) and dried fish.

The seized illegal shipments were brought to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) warehouse for safe keeping.

Coast Guard Station (CGS) Zamboanga operated alongside the Joint Intelligence Group composed of Zamboanga City Police Office, Intel Anti-Vice, Task Force Zamboanga, Air Intelligence Service Squadron (AISS)-Philippine Air Force, 304 AISS Squadron, Naval Intelligence and Security Force, Philippine Center for Transnational Crimes, Joint Task Force ZAMBASULTA, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Office IX.

MV Trishia Kerstin 2, owned and operated by Aleson Shipping Lines, figured in the same illegal transport of items in September 2010 when three boxes of illegal firecrackers were found onboard. The Coast Guard also rescued 13 victims of human trafficking from said ship in January 2014 while a passenger was arrested in February 2015 for illegal possession of three long fire-arms with ammunitions.