The Bureau of Customs (BoC) on Tuesday revealed that its operatives seized a motor tanker and several trucks carrying smuggled fuel worth P128 million at a port in San Juan, Batangas.

Led by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service-Manila International Container Port (MICP) with support from the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) Task Force Aduana and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Batangas, the team seized the motor tanker and trucks allegedly involved in the “paihi” modus at Subukin Port in San Juan.

The raiding team seized 217,000 liters of smuggled diesel.

At P60 per liter, the 217,000 liters of fuel are valued at P13,020,000. The motor tanker is estimated to be worth P60 million, and the 11 trucks, at P5 million each, are valued at a total of P55 million.

The BoC said that the seizure was possible because of the “swift and decisive” action of the team after the agency received information about the vessels.

Reports said that the operation at Subukin Port yielded the motor tanker M/T Feliza, loaded with an estimated 200,000 liters of unmarked diesel and 11 trucks.

“The tanker and trucks both failed the initial fuel sampling and testing conducted by the SGS Fuel Marking Team-Batangas and our CIIS-MICP (Manila International Container Port) agents. The fuel marking was at zero percent,” CIIS director Verne Enciso said.

The lack of proper fuel markings suggests the non-payment of necessary taxes and duties.

Enciso also said that the vessel’s captain, Adolfo Jabines Tindoy, was found hiding on the ship deck when the team boarded the tanker.

Medantime, Intelligence Group deputy commissioner Juvymax Uy said that the seizure underscores the importance of not only border control and patrol, but also protecting the economy and consumers from fraudulent products.

“While our mandate is to protect and man our borders, it comes with the responsibility of making sure our consumers, especially those who purchase from small and independent retailers, have access to only legal, legitimate, and tested products, including fuel,” Uy said.

“We have made significant strides in protecting our consumers from these illegal products, but the work is never over. We commend our team for this operation, but we must still remain vigilant and even more committed now to putting an end to this ‘paihi’ system,” he added.

The owners, ship captain, and crew of the motor vessel and trucks face charges for violating Sections 117 and 1113 of Republic Act 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, and RA 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, after they failed to present proper documents for the seized fuel.