The Joint Task Force (JTF) POSEIDON, 1st Zamboanga City Mobile Force Company (ZCMFC), and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region IX (BFAR-9) on Sunday seized homemade explosives and equipment used for blast fishing.
Naval Forces Western Mindanao Public Affairs Officer Lieutenant Chester Ross Cabaltera said that late afternoon on Sunday, the joint forces were patrolling the waters near Barangay Mariki, Zamboanga City.
“This operation highlights the ongoing dedication of our maritime law enforcement agencies to stopping illegal fishing and protecting our coastal communities,” Cabaltera said.
They found and confiscated 46 bottles/containers of homemade explosives, 50 commercial blasting caps, 8 meters of timing fuse and a white motorized boat.
By 6:00 PM, the items were safely delivered to EMP, NSRE, where the Zamboanga City Police Station 8 (ZCPS8) and the Philippine National Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (PNP-EOD) team inspected and documented them.
The explosives and equipment were handed over to PNP-EOD for proper disposal.