Smuggled sugar seized in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY – Suspected smuggled sugar worth about P425,000 was seized by a joint team of the police and Bureau of Customs (BOC) at a private wharf in this city on Monday.

The anti-smuggling operation in Barangay Baliwasan resulted in the arrest of two suspects and seizure of 170 bags, each weighing 50 kilos, of imported sugar, according to Michael Lanza, chief of the BOC field station operation and intelligence division.

The suspects, identified as Radz-mer Tooth Asgali, 34, and Almujib Sarail Buji, 18, failed to present documents for the importation of the commodity.

Lanza said investigation showed the contraband came from Jolo in Sulu, and was believed to be smuggled from Thailand.

BOC district officer Zsae Carrie de Guzman issued a warrant of seizure and detention covering the contraband.

Lanza said the suspects were charged with violation of the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016 and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.