The Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated a tanker containing approximately P219.5 million worth of smuggled fuel in La Union.

Over the weekend, the BOC revealed that the operation was prompted by reports of an illegal fuel transfer scheme known as 'paihi' at the La Union Port.

According to BOC-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Services Director Verne Enciso, the MT Bernadette was caught in the act of transferring diesel fuel to a lorry truck around 9:45 PM on June 19. Two lorry trucks were discovered to be carrying diesel fuel from the motor tanker.

Initial inventory revealed 200,000 liters of diesel fuel on the tanker, along with an additional 59,000 liters in the two lorry trucks.

Ten crew members aboard the vessel failed to provide legal justification for their actions. Apart from the crew, 11 other individuals involved in various roles such as drivers, porters, lookouts, and accomplices were also apprehended.

The owners, ship captain, crew members of the MT Bernadette and lorry trucks, as well as the owner of the seized diesel fuel, will be facing administrative and criminal charges for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.