MANILA, Philippines—Operatives of the Philippine Coast Guard temporarily confiscated 88 sacks of shells on a cargo vessel en route to Zamboanga City on Wednesday night.
In a report released at around 4 p.m. Thursday, the PCG headquarters in Manila said the illegal cargo was found on board the Sea Dayang II, a wooden-hulled cargo vessel owned and operated by one Maing Jimbdi. The vessel was en route to a private wharf in Zamboanga from Bonggao, Tawi-tawi, when it was boarded at around 8:45 p.m. by elements of the PCG Zamboanga Station and PCG Field Stations- Southwestern Mindanao.
“The apprehension resulted from the information received by the CGS Zamboanga that said vessel was expected to arrive at the vicinity and was allegedly carrying suspicious illegal product,” Lieutenant Commodore Algier Ricafrente said.
Ricafrente said the inspection team found 85 sacks containing Tiger Cowrie Shells, three sacks of Abalon Shells and two cartons of assorted unidentified species of shells with an estimated market value of P495,000 as indicated by receipt issued by the Office of the Municipal Fishery of Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
He said a representative from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources examined the shipment around 9:30 a.m. Thursday and declared that the marine shells did not belong to the list of prohibited or banned items.
“However, the Coast Guard has issued a Maritime Violation Receipt to Sea Dayang II for misdeclaration of the said cargoes as copra, scrap metal and seaweeds instead of marine products,” Ricafrente said.
The cargo was shipped by a certain Michael Yu with a certain Gina Go from Zamboanga listed as the consignee.