4 YACHTS LINKED TO P9.68-B BATANGAS DRUG BUST SEIZED

The Bureau of Customs on Tuesday said it seized three private yachts, one of which was allegedly used to transport 1.4 tons of illegal drugs to Nasugbu, Batangas.

According to a statement, the BOC, Philippine National Police (PNP) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducted a parallel investigation that led to the discovery of three undocumented yachts docked in Nasugbu, all under the ownership of a foreign national.

The BOC said at least one of the yachts was used to transport the 1.4 tons of shabu to Nasugbu from an undisclosed source.

The ongoing probe established a connection of the vessels to the P9.68 billion worth of shabu that was intercepted at a police checkpoint in Alitagtag, Batangas on April 15.

“Yung intelligence group namin tsaka enforcement group namin is (sic) in receipt of information. Na-identify through our investigation and backtracking of incident that transpired na itong apat na yateng ito ang nagamit para i-smuggle yung mga illegal na droga sa ating bansa,” said BOC Assistant Commissioner Attorney Vincent Maronilla in a 24 Oras report by Oscar Oida on Wednesday.

(Our intelligence group and enforcement group are in receipt of information. It was identified through our investigation and backtracking of incident that transpired that these four yachts were used to smuggle illegal drugs into the country)

The BOC is looking into the connection of the yachts' foreign owner with the seized contraband.

“Ipapatawag namin at iimbestigahan namin kung ano ang participation niya sa pagta-transport nitong mga iligal na droga na ito,” Maronilla added.

(We will call him and we will investigate his participation in the transportation of these illegal drugs.)

The BOC was able to implement a Warrant of Seizure and Detention (WSD) on Thursday for violation of the “Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.”

The yachts will be turned over to the Port of Manila (POM) Auction and Cargo Disposal Division, while the seized contraband from Alitagtag in April had already been destroyed by the PDEA on June 6 and would not be used as evidence in court.

"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,” said BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio.

Meanwhile, Customs also plans to look into how the contraband is smuggled into the country.

“May modus operandi kasi na yung mga barkong may laman na illegal items tulad ng droga inilalapag nila ito sa mga isla na medyo malayo sa ating shorelines pero part pa rin ng Philippine territorial waters. They use smaller vessels like yachts,” Maronilla said.

(There is a modus operandi where ships with a cargo of illegal items such as drugs are unloaded on islands far from our shorelines but within the Philippine territorial waters. They use smaller vessels like yachts [from there].)—Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News

This article 4 yachts linked to P9.68-B Batangas drug bust seized was originally published in GMA News Online.

2024-07-02T11:11:45Z dg43tfdfdgfd