The Philippine Coast Guard on Monday reported that its operatives arrested 18 individuals who were caught in the act of illegally siphoning diesel from a sea vessel in Navotas City.

The illegal siphoning — commonly known as ‘paihi’ — was allegedly carried out by the suspects on 28 January 2023 while the PCG was doing a routine patrol at Navotas Fish Port.

Five of the 18 suspects were seen transferring pilfered fuel from cargo vessel M/V MIROLA 1 into motorbancas identified as Palawan Pirates 2022, Palawan Pirates 2023 and Palawan Patrick.

The PCG said that at least 20,000 to 30,000 liters of diesel was siphoned from the M/V MIROLA 1 into the three motorbancas.

It added that the group behind the illegal siphoning was notorious for theft of gasoline from various docked vessels not only in the Ports in Metro Manila but in Bataan and Batangas ports.

The suspects were immediately held at the Coast Guard Sub-Station in Navotas and the PCG is readying proper charges against the 18 suspects.