Ways to curb smuggling at Subic free port bared

CUSTOMS Commissioner Napoleon Morales urged Subic Bay Free port authorities to adopt a systematic boarding of all fishing vessels as well as place these on high alert status to prevent their use for smuggling.

This developed shortly after operatives of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group and free port authorities intercepted in Subic this week some 710 kg of high-grade methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) with a street value of P5 billion.

In a report to Morales, Subic district collector Marietta Zamoranos said the shabu came from Shun Fa Xing, a Vietnam-registered fishing vessel, that docked at the free port at 8 a.m. of May 25.

She added there was no notice of arrival of the vessel and the Customs Immigration Quarantine team did not inspect the vessel.

They said the vessel departed on May 27 without an exit clearance from the Bureau of Customs and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority.

“I think that I will need to meet with [SBMA] administrator Armand Arreza to devise measures to tighten security and prevent a repeat of such incidents,” Morales said. Joel E. Zurbano - Manila Standard Today