BOC seizes around 1.8M liters of unmarked fuel at Batangas port

A fuel tanker and four trucks transferring smuggled fuel were intercepted by the Bureau of Customs at the Port of Batangas on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Customs

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized a fuel tanker carrying approximately 1.8 million liters of smuggled fuel and four trucks at the Port of Batangas on Wednesday.

According to the BOC, they caught marine tanker M/KTR Cassandra in the act of transferring petroleum products into four tank trucks on Tuesday night.

The vessel is estimated to be worth P300 million, while each of the four trucks is valued at around P3 million. 

“The alleged initial load of the M/TKR Cassandra tanker vessel was [an] estimated volume of 1.8 million liters,” the BOC added. 

BOC Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy confirmed that one truck carried 40,000 liters of unmarked fuel, while the other held 14,000 liters.

“The other two were empty but nonetheless seized, along with an L300 van which was being used to consummate the fuel smuggling,” Uy said in a statement.

BOC Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Verne Enciso said they had been receiving tips about the rampant fuel pilferage in local ports, more commonly known as “paihi” modus.

“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,” Enciso said.

Oil tanker MKTR Cassandra seized by the Bureau of Customs. Photo courtesy of the Bureau of Customs

The BOC also reported that the fuel failed SGS marking tests, which meant that the fuel did not have proper markings to prove payment of duties and taxes.

Moreover, the ship’s captain failed to provide documents proving the legality of the berthing and discharge, according to Enciso, resulting in the seizure of the ship and the trucks.

The BOC said the owners, ship captain, and crew of the seized tanker, fuel, and trucks will face charges for violating sections of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law.

READ: BOC intercepts 21,000 liters of unmarked fuel in Tondo