Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 17) — Authorities seized 850,000 liters of smuggled fuel in the Port of Batangas, the Bureau of Customs said on Friday.
The fuel was in a motor tanker, MT BRALEMAN 1, which was found Wednesday to be undocumented and has no government-approved marker.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) said the fuel cargo vessel was also engaging in an illegal trade with another marine vehicle, F/L ST Mariner. The two vessels were supposed to sail to Pier 13 at the Port of Manila.
The crew of the two ships were instructed to proceed to the El Fraile in Manila Bay where they will face a warrant and apprehension order.
They will be charged for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.
A similar incident also took place in Batangas port on Feb. 8, when 700,000 liters of unmarked diesel were confiscated.
The estimated combined value of the smuggled fuel is around ₱100 million, BOC spokesperson Vincent Philip Maronilla told CNN Philippines’ Newsroom Weekend on Saturday.
Maronilla also said the BOC is already coordinating with the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy to identify the usual routes of smugglers in all ports in the country.
