THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) on Thursday said it impounded a tanker found transferring P90 million worth of fuel to four trucks to avoid paying taxes.

On Wednesday, a fuel tanker and four lorries were caught transferring smuggled fuel at the Batangas port, the BoC said in a statement.

The subsequent fuel marking testing on the subject fuel showed failed results, “which meant that the fuel did not have proper markings indicating payment of duties and taxes.”

The seized vessel has an estimated value of P300 million, BoC said. Its cargo contains 1.8 million liters with a cost of P50 per liter, valued at around P90 million.

Likewise, the trucks were valued at P3 million each, or P12 million in total.

Juvymax R. Uy, who serves as deputy commissioner at the Customs’ intelligence group said that two lorry trucks contained 40,000 liters and 14,000 liters of unmarked fuel, respectively.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service Director Verne Y. Enciso, said it has been monitoring the “paihi” modus, in which larger tankers off-load fuel to smaller vessels to escape tax payments.

To determine whether the proper taxes are paid, the bureau uses a unique chemical to mark imported and locally refined petroleum products. This would help avoid smuggling and misdeclaration of fuel products.

“Our operation against these individuals and groups is not a one-time thing. We have been monitoring them for months and finally, they are now in our hands,” Customs Commissioner Bienvenido Y. Rubio was quoted in the statement.

Offenders will face possible charges for violating the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz