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The Bureau of Customs confiscated a tanker vessel and four trucks involved in transferring unmarked fuel worth P90 million at the Port of Batangas
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Together with the confiscated fuel, tanker worth P300 million, and each truck at P3 million, the total value of seized assets was around P402 million
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Impounded were the MTKR Cassandra and four fuel trucks in a joint operation of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service and Enforcement and Security Service
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Fuel marking testing on the seized fuel showed no required markings indicating payment of duties and taxes, prompting BOC-Port of Batangas to issue a warrant of seizure and detention
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The operation targeted the illicit practice known locally as “paihi,” where fuel is siphoned off illegally
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The tanker’s captain, crew, and owners will face charges for violating provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated a tanker vessel and four trucks involved in transferring unmarked fuel worth P90 million at the Port of Batangas on October 15.
Together with the confiscated 1.8 million liters of fuel priced at P50 per liter, truck vessel worth P300 million, and each truck at P3 million, the total value of seized assets was around P402 million.
Impounded were the MTKR Cassandra and four fuel trucks in a joint operation of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) and Enforcement and Security Service.
BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the fuel marking tests revealed that the seized fuel did not have the required markings, indicating non-payment of duties and taxes.
Consequently, the BOC-Port of Batangas issued a warrant of seizure and detention for the fuel, vessel, and trucks.
“Our operation against these individuals and groups is not a one-time thing. We have been monitoring them for months and finally, they are now on our hands. It’s the relentless efforts and the commitment of our officers to their mandate that led to the seizure of this tanker and the lorries,” Rubio said in a statement.
CIIS Director Verne Enciso stated that the operation targeted the illicit practice known as “paihi,” where fuel is siphoned off illegally.
“When we received the information about the illegal activities at the Port of Batangas, we immediately verified it through our sources and made plans to inspect the said port. Our coordination with the local port officers and enforcement units led us to MTKR Cassandra, which we caught in the act of transferring fuel products into the lorries (trucks) on Tuesday (Oct. 15) night,” Enciso said.
Despite requests for documentation, the ship’s captain was only able to produce crew members’ seaman’s books, leading to the seizure of the ship and vehicles in the vicinity of Batangas port and under BOC custody.
The ship’s captain, crew, and owners now face potential charges for violating provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and RA 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law.
READ: Tanker crew in illegal fuel transfer face criminal charges
