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Customs police from the Port of Batangas seize a vessel while discharging its load of 700,000 liters of unmarked diesel into two lorries in Mabini Batangas on February 8
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The Bureau of Customs says the captain of the MT Harmony Star failed to present any proof of payment of duties and taxes on the seized cargo
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A warrant of seizure and detention was issued by Batangas Port customs collector for violations of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016
The Bureau of Customs-Port of Batangas seized a tanker on February 8 while it was discharging its load of 700,000 liters of unmarked diesel onto two lorries in the coast of Brgy. Mainaga, Mabini, Batangas.
The officers were inspecting local tankers carrying fuel within the port’s jurisdiction when they chanced upon the M/T Harmony Star unloading the diesel onto the two trucks near Mabini, BOC said.
Customs said the tanker’s coasting manifest and voyage plan indicate that the cargo is unmanifested. The captain of the vessel failed to show any proof of payment of duties and taxes for the cargo. Fuel samples taken from the trucks and the vessel also failed the marking test.
Port Collector Ma. Rhea Gregorio immediately issued a warrant of seizure and detention against the vessel for violation of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016 in relation to Department of Finance-Bureau of Customs-Bureau of Internal Revenue Joint Circular No. 001-2021 relating to fuel smuggling.
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