AROUND 160,000 sacks of rice and thousands bags of sugar believed to be smuggled into the country were found stored in seven warehouses in Zambasulta (Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi) area recently, the Bureau of Customs said Tuesday.
Armed with seven letters of authority from Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, customs agents and military men inspected the seven warehouses in November 9 and 15.
A total of 100,000 sacks of rice and 30,000 bags of sugar with estimated value of P160 million were uncovered inside the Almali Marketing, one of the raided warehouses.
Other warehouses inspected were Hadji Warid Warehouse 1, 2 and 3; Minham, Minham 2; and Jundilan Warehouse 1 and 2.
Baliwasan Warehouse 1 yielded 30, 090 sacks of rice and 20 bags of sugar worth P30 million while Baliwasan Warehouse 2 has 28,000 bags of rice worth P56 million.
Port of Zamboanga District Collector Segundo Sigmundfreud Barte said the owners of the warehouses are given 15 days to present legal pertinent documents supporting the shipments. If they fail to do so, Warrant of Seizure and Detention will be issued against the shipments. (BETHEENA KAE UNITE)
