Dynamite, ammonium nitrate found on Philippine ferry

The Philippine Coast Guard said Friday it had confiscated 12.5 tonnes of ammonium nitrate and 130 cases of dynamite from two trucks aboard a roll-on, roll-off passenger ferry at a port in Palawan province.

The Coast Guard said the explosive substances were found on Sunday alongside materials used in detonations. It said the cargo had been improperly declared.

The confiscated explosives and components are in the custody of the Philippine National Police, the Coast Guard said. It said it would work with police to determine the role of personnel accompanying the shipment.

It was unclear as of Friday afternoon whether any arrests had been made, and the company involved was not disclosed. The Coast Guard said an officer responsible for port safety had been relieved from his post to ensure an impartial investigation.

The discovery comes after deadly ferry accidents in the Philippines, including a September 9 fire after an explosion in the cargo hold of the M/V June Aster near Coron, Palawan.