Motor tanker allegedly linked to fuel smuggling apprehended at Batangas port — PNP-MG

A motor tanker suspected to be involved in fuel smuggling was apprehended at the Batangas International Port on Wednesday, the Philippine National PNP - Maritime Group (PNP-MG) said.

The PNP-MG said a representative from Bureau of Customs (BOC) asked Batangas Maritime Police Station (MARPSTA) to help in probing the alleged fuel smuggling activities involving "MT Cassandra" after authorities received intelligence reports.

“Responding without delay, the operatives of Batangas MARPSTA were deployed to the port to provide security and aid customs personnel in securing the scene,” the PNP-MG said in a statement.

“Upon arrival, they discovered a vessel, identified as "MT Cassandra", docked alongside four tanker lorries. Large hoses connected the vessel to the lorries, suggesting the illegal transfer of fuel was already in progress,” it added.

According to the PNP-MG, the 12 crew members on board the vessel are suspected to be involved in fuel smuggling activity.

“The seized vessel, the tanker lorries, and the fuel products of 1.8 million liters with estimated market value of P90 million are now under the custody of Customs authorities for inventory and further legal action,” it said.

“The investigation is ongoing, and charges will be filed against those responsible for this illicit operation,” it added.

In a statement, BOC said it conducted fuel marking testing on the subject and it yielded failed results, which meant that the fuel did not have proper markings indicating payment of duties and taxes,

This prompted the District Collector of the BOC-Port of Batangas to issue a warrant of seizure and detention against the subject fuel, vessel, and lorries.

BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio said they have been monitoring the suspects for months.

BOC-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Verne Enciso, whose team led the operation together with the BOC-Enforcement and Security Service, their coordination with the local port officers and enforcement units led them to MT Cassandra "which we caught in the act of transferring fuel products into the lorries on Tuesday night."

BOC-Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy said that further investigation showed that the two lorry trucks contained 40,000 liters and 14,000 liters of unmarked fuel, respectively. 

The other two were empty but were also seized, along with an L300 van.

The BOC said the owners, ship captain, and crew of the seized vessels, fuel, and lorries will face possible charges for violating Sections 117 and 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.—Joviland Rita and Ted Cordero/AOL, GMA Integrated News