AMID the holiday rush, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) thwarted the smuggling of a total of 146,000 liters of unmarked fuel in Mariveles, Bataan on Saturday, December 16, 2023, and impounded the motorized tanker used to transport the fuel.

Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio lauded the quality of information received by the bureau because such intelligence report is crucial for the success of the apprehension especially in private ports unmanned by Customs agents.

He also welcomed the immediate action taken by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) operatives to verify the attempt to smuggle millions worth of unmarked fuel, which indicates the lack of necessary duties and taxes.

According to the commissioner, agents of the CIIS-MICP and National Bureau of Investigation – Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD) proceeded to 1466 Brgy. Alas Asin in Mariveles, Bataan to validate the report they received.

“Our agents went to the anchorage area upon receiving information that there were several vessels carrying alleged smuggled fuel and thereafter being transferred to lorry trucks. A significant challenge in this operation is that this happened in a private port without BOC personnel, so the intel we received is critical,” Rubio said.

“These groups might think that they can get away with their illegal activities because it’s Christmas season. We’ve just proved them wrong. This latest operation is a message that nothing will stop and distract us from our goal of coming after them,” he added.

BOC-CIIS Director Verne Enciso gave more details about the operation.

He said that the estimated value of the fuel and 16 lorry trucks is P88 million, while the estimated value of the vessel is P60 million.

“Our agents boarded the MT LORNA 2 at around 9 p.m. last night. They immediately extracted samples of alleged smuggled fuel from the 12 compartments because these samples would need to be tested first,” he said.

“So far, initial test results by ESS fuel marking and SGS mobile laboratory units that arrived around midnight showed that the fuel sampled from the motorized tanker and lorry trucks failed or was umarked. We would need to do further confirmatory tests,” he added.

CIIS-MICP chief Alvin Enciso also shared that some 11 lorry trucks were in the area waiting to be loaded but of that number, only four trucks were found to be loaded with fuel. An additional five lorry trucks filled with 32,000 liters of fuel were also found during a CIIS follow-up operation, he said.

Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Juvymax Uy assured an even more intensified monitoring of smuggling attempts during the holiday season.

“Although holiday traffic is building, our officers will remain focused on their enforcement mission. We plan to keep the traffic moving while also keeping our eyes on the actions being taken by these groups and prevent smuggled and harmful products from crossing our shores,” he said.