Seized container vans loaded with "budyong"

The two 10-footer container vans withheld by operatives of the Naval Forces Central and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Branch at Pier 4 in Cebu City were opened yesterday and were confirmed to have been loaded with banned shells locally known as budyong or helmet shell.

The vans were opened upon the order of Cebu Customs collector Lourdes Mangaoang who personally observed the opening with Elpidio dela Victoria, project director of Cebu City Bantay Dagat Commission, and Jeffrey Cortez, chief regulatory division of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-7, and personnel from Navforcen.

Mangaoang ordered the consignee to appear within 24 hours after the vans were opened before the shipment will be turned over to Navforcen.

But the consignee, who was only known as a certain "Mr. Arias" in the manifesto, is believed to be fictitious since he failed to appear yesterday.

The container vans were unloaded from MV Aleson at about 1:00 p.m. last Sunday.

Based on the manifesto, the said vans contained dried seaweeds but the information received by CIIS and Navforcen said that the vans contained banned shells.

The opening of the vans was delayed until yesterday since the CIIS had waited for the consignee to claim the cargo. - Gregg M. Rubio