Coast Guard seizes P1.1-M firecracker shipment in Zambo

Coast Guard authorities stepped up their vigilance Thursday against attempts to smuggle firecrackers in time for the Christmas season, seizing some P1.1 million worth of firecrackers in Zamboanga. The Coast Guard said the firecrackers, detected by K-9 units, were to be transported to Tawi-Tawi province. In a report on its website, the Coast Guard said the 59 boxes of "bawang" firecrackers were found in one container van aboard M/V Trisha Kerstin. M/V Trisha Kerstin, owned by Aleson Shipping and docked at Zamboanga Port, was about to leave for Bongao town in Tawi-Tawi when two K-9 units detected the firecrackers. "Said cargo of firecrackers with market value placed at P1.1M has been confiscated and put on hold at Coast Guard Station Zamboanga Headquarters for inventory and proper disposition," the Coast Guard said. It added it is still pursuing an unidentified shipper for questioning. On the other hand, the Coast Guard said it has started to intensify its campaign against expected shipments of firecrackers and pyrotechnics "as prelude or in preparation for the forthcoming Yuletide Season." "Firecrackers and pyrotechnics are considered dangerous goods and should be covered by essential permits and should strictly follow proper stowage and shipment procedures," it said. "Bawang" is a firecracker banned by the Philippine National Police since 2008. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV