Philippine customs nabs smuggled diesel fuel

The Philippine Bureau of Customs has forfeited about Php190 million (US$4 million) worth of sea vessels and petroleum products believed to have been smuggled into the country by a company owned by fishing magnate Lope Jimenez. Arnel Alcaraz, Port of Manila district collector, said Jimenez failed to present receipts proving that he paid import duties on some two million liters of industrial diesel fuel and biodiesel. Alcaraz said 1,888,298 liters of diesel fuel were seized In his forfeiture order issued August 4, after a raid conducted by Customs intelligence agents at the compound of Jimenez’s Buena Suerte Jimenez Fishing and Trading Corp. at Pier 2 of the Navotas Fish Port almost a year ago. (August 9, 2009)