New task force against smuggling rings formed

A new task force that will go after highly organized smuggling syndicates in the country was created on orders of Malacañang last week.

Composed of police, military, Coast Guard and Customs operatives, the newly-formed task force has been placed under the direct control and supervision of Customs Commissioner Titus Villanueva.

Villanueva met with top police, military and Coast Guard officials recently to draw up plans and counter actions to combat the smuggling menace.

A list of suspected big-time smugglers was also validated by the anti-smuggling body in the coordinating conference.

Meanwhile, the PNP informed members of the anti-smuggling task force of intelligence reports that remnants of the Kuratong Baleleng (KB) kidnapping and robbery ring have shifted to smuggling operations in the country’s southern backdoor.

The PNP further claimed that the KB smuggling activities are confined mainly in the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Ozamis, Gingoog, Butuan, Dipolog and Davao.

After they gained notoriety for their kidnapping and bank robberies in Metro Manila where a number of them were killed during encounters with authorities, surviving KB members hybernated in Mindanao.

Later, the group, shifted to illegal drugs, rice and sugar smuggling, the PNP report, said. — Jaime Laude