ZAMBOANGA CITY - Some 20,000 sacks of smuggled rice that were intercepted by the Philippine Coast Guard office in the city over the weekend were found in a privately-owned warehouse, Tuesday.

Authorities raided Basulta Traders Corporation warehouse in Barangay Tetuan after receiving reports that the smuggled sacks of rice went missing, said Bureau of Customs District Collector Lyceo Martinez said.

"Exactly 'yung pictures na nakita namin sa nahuling lantsa, 'yun ang mga bigas na Crown 88 na tig 50-kilos," Martines said.

"We have reason to believe that 'yan ang mga bigas na nawawala," he said.

Martinez has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to formally conduct an investigation to determine if several Customs officials were involved in the incident.

The warehouse has been placed under the BOC's control while investigations are ongoing, Martinez said.