1.8-M LITERS OF SMUGGLED FUEL SEIZED AT BATANGAS PORT

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Wednesday seized a fuel tanker and four lorries caught in the act of transferring smuggled fuel at the Port of Batangas.

The seizure  occurred amid the intensified crackdown against the “paihi” modus or the illegal transfer of fuel.

An information received by the BOC-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (BOC-CIIS) led to a joint operation by the CIIS and Enforcement and Security Service (ESS).

The fuel tanker was found transferring petroleum products into four lorry tankers.

It was found out that the seized fuel had no proper markings indicating payment of duties and taxes.

This prompted district collector Noah M. Dimaporo of the BOC-Port of Batangas to issue  a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the subject fuel, vessel, and lorries.

“Our swift response and thorough investigation led to this successful seizure. The illegal transfer of fuel undermines our efforts to ensure proper tax collection and fair competition in the industry,” said Dimaporo.

“We remain vigilant in guarding against such unlawful activities and will continue to act decisively to protect government coffers,” he added.

BOC Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio said the operation was conducted in response to numerous information received about rampant fuel pilferage in the ports.

“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 effort and commitment of our officers to their mandate that led to the seizure of unmarked fuel, tanker and lorries,”Rubio said.

The BOC-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) reported that it has been keeping a watchful eye on this “paihi” modus for some time now.

It was learned that ESS-CPD, Port of Batangas while on roving inspection at the Domestic Docking Area, found suspicious trucks parked beside the M/TKR Cassandra tanker vessel.

The  ESS-CPD team and other local port officials held the lorry truck (with plate no. NUB 1181) with estimated volume of 40,000 liters, another lorry truck with estimated volume of 14,000 liters, two  empty lorry trucks, and one L300 van.

The alleged initial load of the tanker vessel was estimated at 1.8 million liters.

The owners, ship captain, and crew members of the seized vessels, fuel, and lorries will face possible charges for violation of Section 1113 in relation to Section 1401 of Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), as well as Section 80 of RA 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.