ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 02, 2008) – Police seized Tuesday thousands of blasting caps and detonating cords from a warehouse in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines.
Police said at least 10,000 blasting caps and 3,000 meters of detonating cords had been recovered from the warehouse used by a cargo firm. The materials, it said, was shipped from Manila but remained unclaimed since Friday raising suspicion that it contained illegal materials.
Police identified the shipper of the cargo as Benhil Masul. It said the cargo’s bill showed that it contained only sparkplugs. It was not immediately known whether the cargo was intended to any rebel group in the southern Philippines, where security forces are battling the Abu Sayyaf and the larger Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Blasting caps are also widely used in illegal fishing in the restive region. In May, a marine patrol also intercepted a small boat transporting more than 280 bags of ammonium nitrate at a wharf in the village of Buanza and dozens of blasting caps near the southern town of Indanan.
The chemical, which is commonly used as a fertilizer, is also an ingredient to homemade explosive common in blast fishing. (Mindanao Examiner)
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