The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized some 43,980.5 metric tons of fuel oil and its carrier, a foreign oil tanker, at the Harbor Bulk Terminal in Limay, Bataan province.
The BOC said the seizure of both cargo and its carrier was effected through the strength of a warrant of seizure and detention issued by District Collector Julius Premediles of the Port of Limay.
In a statement, Customs Chief Nicanor Faeldon said the fuel oil was fraudulently declared as industrial fuel oil laden on board MT Alpine Magnolia, a Mashall Island/Majuro Registry, docked at the vicinity of SL Harbor Bulk Terminal Corp., CBM, in Barangay Kitang, Limay, Bataan.
“The oil shipment was fraudulently imported, without the required port load survey report and with inconsistencies in documentation in serious violation of Section 1113 of Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act of 2016.
“No value of the shipment was reported yet as BOC examiners have still to finish their investigation and inventory,” Faeldon added.
The MT Alpine Magnolia arrived on Dec. 14, from Singapore. —TINA G. SANTOS