Aviation forces intercept shipment of M16 spare parts

ZAMBOANGA CITY — Police aviation forces intercepted a shipment of M16 spare parts at the cargo section of the Zamboanga International Airport.

Senior Superintendent Ibar Padao, 9th Aviation Security Group (ASG) chief, disclosed that seven bolts were concealed in a fish cargo intended for shipment to Manila. The ASG detected the illegal cargo first week of August.

Information regarding the intercepted contraband was not, however, made public immediately, pending follow-up operations conducted to track down the receiver of the shipment.

Padao said the bolts were slipped in one of the private cargo forwarders in the city. He said he met cargo forwarders here and urged them to observe tight itemization of cargoes as required under the anti-hijacking law.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration has imposed tight security at entry points to prevent terrorists and persons under the police blacklist from entering the country.

Sitti Rubaina Damih-Lutian, acting alien control officer, said the bureau has imposed the preventive measures by keeping an up-to-date computerized record of terrorists and blacklisted persons.

"They thought they can pass through the south. But it is a wrong idea. We are not left behind in terms of equipment to track them down," Lutian warned.

The immigration bureau here has intercepted and arrested members of terrorist organizations, including one al-Qaeda suspect who was sent back to his place of origin last year.