Contraband fuel intercepted off Batangas anew

MANILA, Philippines — Another shipment of undocumented and unmarked fuel was intercepted off Batangas, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced on Thursday.

The BOC in a statement said that their office in the Port of Batangas coordinated with the agency’s Intelligence Group and the Philippine Navy in intercepting MT BRALEMAN 1 last Wednesday.

Upon inspection, the fuel cargo tested negative for the presence of the government-approved fuel marker, a chemical that is mixed into the fuel to indicate that the correct duties and fees were paid before docking.

BOC assured the public that a custodial investigation would be conducted prior to the filing of an appropriate case.

Last February 8, BOC also reported that another vessel with 700,000 liters of unmarked diesel was spotted and intercepted in the waters of Barangay Mainaga in Mabini, Batangas.

gsg