P3.2M worth of smuggled rice intercepted off Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Government authorities on Wednesday seized some P3.2 million worth of allegedly smuggled Jasmine rice from a vessel they had intercepted off Sta. Cruz Island here on Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent Jose Chiquito Malayo, city police director, said the joint police, Coast Guard and Navy team launched an operation after a maritime patrol team became suspicious of a motor launch sailing for this city.

Kee Dugusan, the captain of ML Anraiza, could not show legal documents for the shipment, consisting of about 3,200 pieces of 25-kilogram bags of Jasmine rice, he said.

The boat captain was being held for questioning over the contraband, Malayo said.