OPERATIVES of the Philippine Navy foiled another attempt by smugglers to sneak into the country more than 100 drums of fuel oil worth millions of pesos.

Reports reaching the Navy headquarters showed that the 110 drums of smuggled fuel was about to be unloaded from passenger vessel ML Princess Rohann 2 in a private wharf in Baliwasan seaside, Zamboanga City when intercepted by the Navy earlier this week.

On Friday, Col. Omar Tonsay, Navy spokesman said that the seized cargo lacked the necessary importation documents and is believed to have originated from Sabah, Malaysia.

He added that the carrying vessel, owned and operated by a certain Benson Sadjiri, had already been turned over by the Navy to the coast guard, while the hot cargo would be turned over to the Bureau of Customs for proper disposal.

It was also discovered that the vessel’s skipper failed to accomplish the required Master Oath of Safety Departure and had no dangerous cargo permit as well.

It was the third time this month that the Navy was able to intercept smuggled goods in the southern Mindanao area.

Earlier this month, Navy elements also apprehended a P10-million worth of various smuggled goods, fuel and cigarettes in Sulu province.

The hot goods, consisting of 12,000 sacks of rice and 1,412 boxes of assorted foodstuff and 400 sacks of wheat flour, were loaded on board ML Shayna when intercepted.

It also came from Sabah, Malaysai and was on its way to Warid Pier in Jolo, Sulu when the Navy intercepted it.

Investigation revealed that the shipment had no legal importation documents such as import permit from the National Food Authority as in the case of rice importation.

It was followed by the seizure of P15-million worth of smuggled fuel and cigarettes off the coast of Tulian Island in Sulu.

The port of origin of said shipment has not been determined but authorities believed that it also came from Sabah, which is usually used by smugglers as jump-off point in sneaking smuggled goods into the country.

It is estimated that the customs bureau is losing at least P50 billion a year from rampant smuggling.