Agents of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service assigned at the Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) shut down a gas station in Valenzuela City after discovering that three of its fuel tanks contained unmarked fuel worth P3.1 million.
Bureau of Customs chief Bienvenido Rubio said three out of the four tanks at the Roden Refilling Gas Station failed a fuel mark test conducted by the CIIS-MICP in coordination with personnel from the Enforcement Group Fuel Marking team.
This test is performed to ensure the safety and quality of the fuel being sold to consumers.
“It is customary and functionary and it complements our border protection duties. The work that we do in the BOC is geared toward one goal and that is to win against all types of smugglers,” Rubio said.
CIIS Director Verne Enciso said the team conducted Chain of Custody Activities at the gas station, including marking, sampling, and testing fuels from source, carrier vehicle, and destination retail stations.
“After the gas station representative acknowledged the Mission Order, our personnel collected samples from the four fuel tanks there. Tanks numbers one to three failed the test, while tank four passed,” he said.
Customs officials explained that the presence of unmarked fuel, or the lack of an official fuel marker, suggests that necessary duties and taxes have not been paid. Fuel markers are used to verify product integrity and protect against counterfeiting and tax fraud.
Intelligence Group Deputy Commissioner Juvymax Uy reported that the three tanks containing unmarked fuel held 19,196 liters of premium gasoline, 18,680 liters of unleaded gasoline, and 19,098 liters of blended diesel.
Only the fourth tank, holding 4,000 liters of blended diesel, passed the fuel marking test.
Following these findings, the fuel samples will undergo confirmatory testing by the SGS Main Laboratory. The gas station has been temporarily closed and sealed, with a warning tarpaulin placed to caution potential buyers.
