Government agents have seized another ship and its cargo of smuggled fuel in the waters off Batangas City.
In another development, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) apprehended a tanker with 850,000 liters of undocumented fuel in the high seas of Batangas.
A task force composed of operatives from the Port of Batangas and Customs Intelligence Group, assisted by the Navy and the Air Force intercepted the M/T Braleman 1
carrying 850,000 liters of undocumented fuel.
Customs Enforcement Group deputy commissioner Teddy Raval said MT Braleman 1 and F/L ST Mariner were caught siphoning fuel on Feb. 15.
“The fuel cargo tested negative for the presence of the government-approved marker and had no pertinent documents,” said Raval.
The two vessels were headed to Pier 13 of the Port of Manila in South Harbor.
Raval said a custodial investigation will be conducted ahead of the filing of a criminal case.
On Feb. 7, the Port of Batangas also seized a vessel with 700,000 liters of smuggled diesel along the coastal waters of Barangay Mainaga in Mabini.
Operatives of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service made the seizure after receiving information about the possible presence of unmarked fuel in the crude oil tanker VOI MT Harmony Star.
The deficient fuel marker level confirmed that the oil did not pass through the proper procedure of importation.
Raval said the multiple apprehensions and seizures relating to fuel smuggling manifest the intensified border protection efforts of the Bureau of Customs to combat illicit trade and fraud.
Deputy Commissioner Teddy Raval said the fuel cargo tested negative for the presence of the government-approved marker and had no pertinent documents.
He said the BOC, in coordination with the Philippine Coast and Philippine Navy intercepted the MT BRALEMAN 1 and F/L ST Mariner, while engaged in the illicit trade of petroleum products.
The combined government task force apprehended and instructed both vessels to proceed to the El Fraile in Manila Bay, where BOC and PN personnel served the warrant and apprehension order.
The two vessels were headed to Pier 13 of the Port of Manila.
All crew members of the sea vessel were criminally charged for violation of Section 1401 in relation to Section 1430 of R.A. No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (“CMTA”).
The BOC expressed gratitude to PCG and the military for their assistance in making MT BRALEMAN 1 accountable for their crimes.
“We don’t take these things sitting down, and we are determined to run after these people to make them pay for breaking our laws,” BOC Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy said.
Only recently, the BOC-Port of Batangas also seized a vessel with 700,000 liters of unmarked diesel along the coastal waters of Barangay Mainaga in Mabini, Batangas last February 8.
The multiple apprehensions and seizures relating to fuel smuggling manifest the intensified border protection efforts of the Bureau to combat illicit trade and customs fraud.
