THE BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS37) seized a motorized banca, MB Patay Sapa, smuggling cigarettes with an estimated value of P4 million off the coast of Balut Island in Davao Occidental on Jan. 3.
NFEM spokesperson Lt. Commander Jerome Bryan Mauring said the navy ship, under the operational control of Naval Task Force 71, conducted territorial defense operations along the RP-RI common borders when they intercepted the suspicious vessel.
As a result of the interception, they recovered approximately 100 boxes of Gajah Baru cigarettes and arrested the three individuals on board. Further interrogation revealed that the motorized banca came from Indonesia bound for Linao, Maasim, Sarangani Province for the drop-off.
The apprehended crew received a medical checkup upon arrival at Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panacan, Davao City. Bureau of Immigration personnel immediately conducted a debriefing and found out that the boat captain was an Indonesian national, while the other two crew members were Filipinos.
