P2.5-M smuggled onions busted in Zamboanga City

Police discovered red onions worth over P2.5 million smuggled into Zamboanga City's waters on Sunday, January 22.

During a seaborne patrol on Barangay Labuan's shoreline, the 2nd Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company, along with Customs and police forces, noticed a "jungkong," or motorized wooden water vessel, bearing the name "Timzzan."

A total of 1,624 mesh bags of red onions, weighing four kilos apiece and with an estimated value of P2,598,400, were found inside the vessel after an inspection.

Five crew members were detained after they could not produce documents for the cargo's transportation.

Before the contraband was given to the BOC, it was also examined and inventoried by the Bureau of Plant Industry.

According to reports, the produce was brought from India via Malaysia, smuggled into Tawi-Tawi, and delivered to Zamboanga City.