Sitangkai: The Western Mindanao Naval Command (WMNC) seized a huge shipment of smuggled goods, believed to be worth millions of pesos, off Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi, a top official said Tuesday. WMNC commander, Rear Adm. Constancio Arturo Reyes Jr., stated that the shipment was seized on Monday near Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi.

According to Philippines News Agency, the sailors manning BRP-Juan Magluyan (PC-392) were conducting maritime patrol when they spotted a wooden-hulled vessel named M/L Fatima Radzna-Juliet anchored in a lagoon. When inspected, the vessel, manned by a 10-man crew, was found to be loaded with assorted contraband from Malaysia. The seized items included 3,000 sacks of rice, 400 bags of refined sugar, 200 boxes of biscuits, 300 boxes of noodles, 100 cases of bottled water, and two boxes each of coffee and soy sauce.

The WMNC personnel believe some of the goods had already been unloaded since the vessel was anchored in a lagoon at the time of the apprehension. The vessel and its cargo were brought to Naval Station Romulo Espaldon in Barangay Calarian, Zamboanga City, for processing and turnover to concerned government agencies.