BOC to issue detention warrant vs. unauthorized Chinese vessel in Bataan

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) will issue a warrant of seizure and detention against an illegal and unauthorized Chinese dredgertype vessel that was spotted in the vicinity of Orion Point, Bataan on Wednesday.

Based on the incident report, operatives of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Task Force Aduana and the BOC spotted the vehicle while conducting maritime security patrol at the vicinity seven nautical miles southwest off Orion Point around 11 a.m.

The PCG said that upon boarding, they discovered that the automatic identification system transponder of the vehicle was turned off and its two Cambodian crewmembers failed to present proper documents.

According to the BOC, the agency’s office in Aparri, Cagayan gave the vessel departure clearance more than a year ago.

“Hence, its presence at said vicinity is illegal and unauthorized. The BOC is set to issue a corresponding warrant of seizure and detention against [the] subject vessel,” the PCG said.

The PCG and the BOC in September 2020 joined hands in enhancing operations on border control, anti-smuggling, and other customs fraud.

On Monday, Taiwan reported that it expelled nearly 4,000 Chinese dredgers from its waters in 2020. — BM, GMA News