2 cargo ships loaded with smuggled rice intercepted off Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—The Philippine Navy reported on Wednesday the seizure of two cargo ships loaded with smuggled rice and other merchandise off Sta. Cruz Island here.

In a report, the Navy said the first ship, MV Mary Joy III, was found to be carrying about 800 sacks of rice weighing 26 kilograms each but no documents were shown for the cargo when inspected around 4:17 a.m.

A Navy ship escorted the MV Mary Joy to the Zamboanga City port and Navy authorities notified the Bureau of Customs about the seizure.

In the same report, the Navy said another ship carrying imported rice and other cargoes was intercepted around 6:30 a.m., also near Sta. Cruz Island.

Like the crew of MV Mary Joy III, the crew of MV Karmina failed to produce documents related to the cargoes, the Navy said.