The Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) recently seized four vessels in Cagayan province believed to have entered the country illegally after the carriers failed to present documents showing that duties and taxes had been paid for by their owners.
BOC said they received reports earlier of foreign vessels allegedly being smuggled into the country and operating in Aparri, a riverside municipality in Cagayan.
After a mission order was issued by Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, the customs bureau’s special studies and project development committee, aided by barangay officials, searched around and found MV Nova 1 at the Parradun Sur Quarry Site in Aparri.
The vessel was discovered to be involved in the illegal quarrying of magnetic black sand along Cagayan River.
Three other vessels, MV Vela 1, MV Vela 3, and MV Monte Cristo II, were found at the Hua Xia/Pine Sand compound in Barangay Tallungan, also in Aparri, supposedly being used for the same purpose.
All four vessels have an estimated total value of P200 million.
“This latest seizure only points to the unyielding efforts of the BOC to put a stop to smuggling and other illicit trade activities, whether by land or sea,” Faeldon said in a statement.
“We will remain even more vigorous in our mission to run after violators,” he added.
