TUGUEGARAO CITY – No illegal drugs were found on board a North Korean-skippered Chinese vessel, which ran aground off the Cagayan-Ilocos Norte coast in the early hours of the New Year.
In a report, the Bureau of Customs in Cagayan province belied reports the ship, M/V Nam Yang 8, was carrying illegal drugs, as reportedly earlier assumed by a joint team of the Immigration and Customs offices in Ilocos Norte, the Coast Guard and police who searched the vessel off Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.
According to earlier reports, the inspection team led by one Paul Versoza, Ilocos Norte immigration officer, discovered shabu and marijuana leaves in one of the vessel’s compartments.
“It was found out that the substance and leaves found on the boat were being used as food additives by the Koreans,” said Oliver Lagazo, BOC-Cagayan officer.
Lagazo and two Cagayan-based immigration agents also conducted separate confirmatory inspections on the ship.
Cagayan Valley police director Chief Supt. Roberto Damian, quoting reports from his men in the field, doubted reports on the illegal drugs.
The vessel’s 22 North Korean crewmen, all earlier held in Claveria, Cagayan, denied they were carrying illegal drugs, saying what was probably found were only “tea” and “flour.”
Damian said the foreigners were rescued ashore after their cargo ship carrying tons of magnetite ran aground off Cagayan along the South China Sea coast.
“The Korean nationals have the proper documents and they are staying in the country legally,” said Damian, amid speculations the foreigners were engaging in illegal mining activities in the country’s northern coast.
Among the Koreans who survived the tragedy were Chol Hwan Jong, Jong Choe, Kun Sik Choe, Jong Su Ri, Tong Kim, Chol Kim, Yong Min Ham, Kwang Su Choe, Man Jin Han, Chol Ho Pak, Chol Jon, Chol Ung Rim, Kwang Chol Jong, Ki Ung Jon, Chol Sun Han, Il Nam Jo, Hak Gwan An, Tong Il Kim, Chul Il Pak, Hae Yong Ro and Jong Gil Jang.
The Koreans, who were transporting 2,165 metric tons of magnetite ore to China, managed to extricate themselves from their troubled ship before dawn of Jan. 1.
Damian said the Koreans managed to abandon their vessel, M/V Nam Yang 8, through a lifeboat which brought them off Barangay Taggat Norte, Claveria town in the South China Sea coast.
“The vessel leaned on its left side due to its heavy load. The group was equipped with rescue equipment, including a huge life boat, enabling them to reach the shore,” he said.
The vessel, which took off at Aparri port, began to tilt to its left side while sailing towards the South China Sea, about six nautical miles away from Taggat Norte.
They reached Claveria shore around 7 a.m. or some three hours after their vessel started to give in due to heavy load.
“One of the vessel’s passengers was injured by the propeller of the ship while the 21 others are now in the custody of Barangay Taggat chairman Arsenio dela Peña,” Damian said.
The North Korean vessel was washed ashore off Barangay Pasaleng in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.
With the use of the vessel’s standby lifeboat, the crew members reached Barangay Taggat Norte, Claveria town, Cagayan.
The cargo vessel had earlier been discovered to be loaded with 2,615 metric tons of magnetite reportedly for shipment to China.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau had also said that the magnetite or black sand was covered by legal papers for its export.
“Eight of the Koreans are now at the site (Pagudpud) with two Immigration agents from Aparri (Claro Uson and Raymund de la Cruz) and Customs Inspector Oliver Lagazo to board the ship if the Coast Guard in Currimao, Ilocos Norte will allow it,” said Cagayan Valley police director Chief Supt. Roberto Damian.
“No magnetite mining is taking place in Cagayan since (then Environment) Secretary Joselito Atienza suspended such activities last year,” said Mario Ancheta, Cagayan Valley MGB director, amid the discovery of the tons of magnetite inside the Chinese vessel which took off from Aparri port.
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