PCG: Joint inspection team of Coast Guard and Bureau of Customs in Zamboanga confiscated more or less 60 sacks of smuggled rice with an estimated market value of ₱48,000.00 at Zamboanga City Port last Sunday.

Information received by Coast Guard Station (CGS) Zamboanga from Coast Guard Field Station in Southwestern Mindanao (FSSWM) that M/V Kristel Jane 3 departed at Port of Jolo, Sulu and arrived at Port of Zamboanga City on 11 April allegedly carrying smuggled rice.

Joint personnel of FSSWM, Bureau of Customs and Vessel Safety Enforcement Inspection Team of said station immediately conducted a joint inspection aboard subject vessel. The team found out that the vessel was loaded with sacks of assorted rice with markings “Sunrise AAA”.

As per verification of documents by the joint inspection team, the cargoes were not declared on the cargo manifest of the said vessel while the owner of said smuggled cargoes is still unidentified up to this date.

The joint inspection team turned-over the apprehended sacks of rice to the Bureau of Customs to determine such violations under customs law and procedures.

M/V Kristel Jane 3, a passenger/cargo vessel with 494.03 GT/270.48 NT is owned and operated by Aleson Shipping Lines Inc. Said vessel is home-ported at Zamboanga City and skippered by Captain Carmelo Luzon Jr.