MANILA, Philippines- Kinumpiska ng mga tauhan ng Bureau of Customs (BOC) katuwang ang Philippine National Police at Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency ang isang pribadong yate na ginamit sa pagbibiyahe ng 1.4 tonelada ng shabu sa Nasugbu, Batangas.
Ayon sa BOC, tinatayang nasa P9.6 bilyon halaga ng ilegal na droga ang naharang sa isang police checkpoint sa Alitagtag, Batangas noong Abril 15, 2024. Sa sumunod na imbestigasyon ng BOC, natuklasan ang tatlong karagdagang undocumented private yacht kung saan lahat ay pag-aari ng parehong indibidwal.
Inisyuhan ni Port of Manila District Collector Rizalino Jose C. Torralba ng Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) noong Hunyo 27, 2024 ang mga nasabing sasakyang pandagat dahil sa paglabag sa Section 1113 ng Republic Act 10863, na kilala rin bilang “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.”
Ang nasabing private yachts na kasalukuyang nakadaong sa Nasugbu, Batangas ay ibibigay sa POM Auction and Cargo Disposal Division alinsunod sa Customs Administrative Order No. 10-2020 “Seizure and Forfeiture Proceedings and Appeals Process.”
“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has tasked us to ensure that our borders are secure, our trade is lawful, and our communities are safe. In response, we have launched a series of comprehensive initiatives aimed at dismantling drug smuggling, among others, through eradicating customs fraud,” pahayag ni Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio.
“Our team is working tirelessly to collaborate closely with international partners, law enforcement agencies, and other government bodies to ensure coordinated and effective responses. Their efforts have already yielded significant results, and we are confident that, with continued vigilance, we will disrupt and dismantle these criminal operations,”giit pa ng opisyal. JAY Reyes
