A gun-running syndicate with ties to an international crime group, and not local politicians as initially reported, was behind the arms cache seized in Mariveles, Bataan last week.

Customs Intelligence chief Fernandino Tuason clarified on Wednesday that there is no clear evidence linking the smuggling of illegal firearms to politicians preparing for the May 2010 elections.

“I’m not saying the case is election-related. It could be or possibly,” said Tuason, adding that international syndicate operating in Asia and Africa could be the owner of the contraband and they had sold it to either communists or crime syndicates in the country.

But the fact-finding committee headed by Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) director Nestorio Gualberto is still in the process of validating all the information received, including reports that politicians are involved.

The team is coordinating with officials of the Indonesian Embassy, particularly defense attache (Navy) Col. Sulang Priyadi, to identify the primary source of the firearms from abroad and its buyer in the Philippines.

Tuason said the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) drafted a letter informing their counterparts in South Africa and Indonesia about the apprehension of high-powered firearms on board the seized M/V Captain Ufuk.

The 5,421 gross ton Panamanian-flag vessel reportedly came from South Africa but it picked up the firearms in Indonesia.

The vessel is registered under the name La Plata Trading Inc. based in Makati but intelligence reports of CIIS showed it was fictitious or non-existent.

“Two other firms appeared as owners of the ship, namely Red, White, and Blue Trading Inc., also in Makati, and Port Cargo Services with no given address,” a Customs agent said.
 
However, a Customs top official, under a condition of anonymity, said the Red, White and Blue Trading is supposed to be the consignee but they found out its listed address is non-existent.

Meanwhile, Morales said he would order the issuance of a warrant of seizure and detention (WSD) for the private yacht believed involved in the smuggling of the guns onshore using the M/V Captain Ufuk.

“But before any warrant can be issued, the authorities need first to know the identity of the owner of the yacht. It seemed that it has been passed on from one owner to another. They need to know the name of the vessel’s current owner,” he said.

Morales gave 15 days to the committee to submit its report and recommendations for its probe.