| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Philippines seize Abu Sayyaf lair |
| 2005-09-14 |
| U.S.-trained Philippine marine commandos raided a hideout of suspected Islamic militants on a remote southwestern island, seizing weapons and smuggled cigarettes, the military said on Wednesday. "Our troops caught them by complete surprise," said Captain Rommel Abrau, a spokesman for the Marine Corps. "They offered token resistance before scampering away, leaving behind their heavy weapons and personal stuff." There were no casualties on either side during the brief firefight following the raid on Tuesday, he said. A speedboat, two machineguns, an assault rifle, a crate of ammunition and about 130 boxes of smuggled cigarettes were found in the raid on Kalingalang Kaluang island, Abrau said. Abrau said the discovery of boxes of untaxed cigarettes was an indication Abu Sayyaf rebels could have shifted to smuggling operations to fund their activities. "Kidnappings are down in the south, so they must be looking at other means to raise money," he said. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #5 China holds the cards on smuggling cigs. The ASG probably lifted them from a ship they pirated in the straights. ASG numbers are as varied as people trying to count. They have large numbers of supporters but only a limited number of key leaders. So mostly the pack mules are killed and counted as ASG. This event sounds like more of that. |
| Posted by: 49 pan 2005-09-14 14:13 |
| #4 I suspect the the name "Abu Sayyaf" is being used generically - like "bandits." Don't think there is a functioning organization by that name anymore. Just add up the reported casualties over the last 3 years -- there are far more killed or captured than Abu Sayyaf's total membership. Just my $.02. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2005-09-14 11:15 |
| #3 A previous RB post had NK funding their nuclear post in part by cigarettes. Is this a NK tie to Abu Sayaf? |
| Posted by: Danielle 2005-09-14 10:58 |
| #2 Sock, they didn't slink, they scampered. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2005-09-14 09:51 |
| #1 Why were they able to slink away? Sounds like smugglers not Terrorists. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom 2005-09-14 00:23 |