SHIP CAPTAIN, CREW FACE CHARGES FOR P90 MILLION OIL SMUGGLING

On Oct 24, 2024

The MTKR Cassandra with a lorry truck besides its berthing area at the Port of Batangas. The quick reaction by BOC operatives led to the discovery of another fuel smuggling ring at the Port of Batangas last October 16 operating right under the nose of the Philippine Ports Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard (photo credit: BOC-PIAD).

THE Bureau of Customs under Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio is preparing criminal charges against a fuel tanker ship captain and his 11 crew members for oil smuggling after being caught red-handed transferring smuggled diesel fuel at the Port of Batangas last October 16.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) Director Verne Enciso, in his report to Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence (DCI) Juvymax Uy and Rubio said, he immediately formed a team together with the Enforcement and Security Service (ESS) after local ESS operatives found 4 lorry trucks being loaded with fuel from the tanker ‘MTKR Cassandra’ that was berthed at the domestic docking area of the port.

“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 on Tuesday night,” Enciaso said.

Customs officers conducting inspection on board the vessel ‘MTKR Cassandra’ (photo credit: BOC PIAD).

The ship’s captain, identified in other reports as ‘Dadie Antonio,’ 71, failed to show any document to prove the legality of the berthing and discharge, except for the seaman’s books of his crew.

A fuel marking test of the diesel also failed, confirming that the tanker’s load, estimated at 1.8 million liters worth over P90 million, is smuggled.

The confirmation led to the seizure of the tanker and the lorry trucks, along with an L-330 van that were immediately abandoned by their drivers who fled to unknown directions.

Enciso said the first lorry truck (NUB 1181) was estimated to contain 40,000 liters; another loaded truck contained some 14,000 liters.

The two other lorry trucks were yet to be loaded but for the surprised arrival of the BOC team.

District collector Noah Dimaporo, who immediately issued an ‘WSD’ (warrant of seizure and detention), said the suspects would be charged for violation of Section 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.