P13M worth of petroleum products seized from smugglers in Batangas; 26 arrested

Over 200,000 liters or P13 million worth of petroleum products was seized Tuesday from an oil smuggling scheme in Batangas, and also led to the arrest of 26 persons including two Chinese citizens.

According to Jun Veneracion’s report in 24 Oras, authorities from the Bureau of Customs, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group raided the Subukin Port in San Juan, Batangas on early Tuesday following a report of alleged smuggling of petroleum products.

The suspects were caught in the act of transferring diesel fuel from the Motor Tanker Feliza to tanker trucks that were lined up on a pier. Both the ship and the vehicles were seized by the law enforcers.

According to information received by Customs, the oil smuggling scheme occurs out in the open sea wherein foreign vessels transfer the smuggled fuel to MT Feliza.

“Yung dalawang Chinese national daw po ay sinasabing taga-communicate o tagapag usap sa crew ng mother vessel na kanilang kinikita sa high seas. Sapagkat ang crew naman po ng mother vessel ay Chinese din,” said Alvin Enciso, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services of the Manila International Container Port chief.

(The two Chinese nationals were said to be the ones communicating with the crew of the vessel that they are meeting with in the high seas. The crew of the mother vessel is also Chinese.)

The arrested individuals, the owners of the vessel and the tanker trucks will face charges of violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

“Marami pa tayong mga follow-up operations at buong Pilipinas ay naka-alerto na sa pagdating sa mga ganitong smuggled items,” said Enciso.

(We will conduct more follow-up operations and the whole country is already on alert for the entry of smuggled items.) —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News