MANILA – Customs authorities apprehended a tanker and four trucks caught transferring unmarked fuel at the Port of Batangas.

In a news release Thursday, Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio said the joint operation carried out by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service and the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) on Tuesday night led to the apprehension of the MTKR Cassandra.

He said the subsequent fuel marking testing on the subject fuel yielded failed results, which meant that the fuel did not have proper markings indicating payment of duties and taxes.

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

“Our operation against these individuals and groups is not a one-time thing. We have been monitoring them for months and finally, they are now on our hands. It’s the relentless efforts and the commitment of our officers to their mandate that led to the seizure of this tanker and the lorries,” he added.

The value of the seized vessel is estimated at PHP300 million while the cargo contains 1.8 million liters at PHP50 per liter, estimated to be worth PHP90 million. The value of the trucks is PHP3 million each or PHP12 million.

On the other hand, CIIS Director Verne Enciso noted they were keeping a close watch on this scheme commonly known as "paihi".

“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, which we caught in the act of transferring fuel products into the lorries (trucks) on Tuesday night,” he said.

Enciso added that the team immediately asked the ship’s captain, who was not identified to show the crew list and documents to prove the legality of the berthing and discharge.

However, the captain failed to provide documents, except for the crew’s seaman’s books.

This led to the seizure of the ship and trucks on Wednesday, which are now docked at the breakwater in the vicinity of Batangas Port and being guarded by BOC personnel.

The owners, ship captain, and crew of the seized vessels, fuel, and trucks will face possible charges for violating Sections 117 and 1113 about Section 1401 of Republic Act (RA) 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. (PNA)