The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) participated in a joint law enforcement operation that led to the interception of approximately 460,000 PESOS WORTH OF DRIED SEAHORSE SHIPMENT at the BANAGO PORT in BACOLOD CITY at around 11:00 a.m. yesterday, 26 March 2021.

The illegal parcel BOUND FOR ILOILO CITY was discovered during the PRE-DEPARTURE INSPECTION on board passenger / RoRo vessel, MV FastCat M3.

The joint law enforcement team, composed of the PCG and the Philippine National Police - Maritime Group, found out that the shipment was declared as 'DRIED FISH' in the bill of lading by a certain Renante Panaguiton, who sent it at around 10:00 a.m. to an unknown consignee in Iloilo City.

Inventory of the intercepted shipment was conducted upon arrival of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

It yielded FIVE KILOS of dried small-sized seahorse valued at 100,000 pesos; 10 KILOS of dried medium-sized seahorse worth 200,000 pesos; and 250 GRAMS of dried large-sized seahorse with an approximate market value of 160,000 pesos — bringing the TOTAL MONETARY VALUE of the illegal parcel to 460,000 PESOS.

Afterwards, it was turned over to the BFAR for proper disposition and further investigation.

COLLECTING AND SELLING SEAHORSES ARE PROHIBITED under Republic Act No. 8550 or the “The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998”.