Police foil arm smuggling

MANADO, North Sulawesi: Police say they have managed to stop several attempts to smuggle weapons from the Philippines to the province over the past month.

"The weapons were to be sold in riot-torn Maluku, according to the suspects we have arrested," the provincial police chief, Brig. Gen. Erald Dotulung, told Antara here on Wednesday.

He said during one raid, police seized 170 bullets and arrested eight people. In the latest operation on Feb. 23, the police confiscated four FN pistols and a rifle.

A joint-operation with the Indonesian Navy on Tabukan Utara islands, Sangihe Talaud district, resulted in the seizure of 11 rifles.

Erald said in handling the smuggling cases the provincial police would seek help from the Philippine Consul General here.