MISAMIS ORIENTAL, Philippines — Authorities have seized a marine tanker carrying ₱41.1 million worth of unmarked diesel and arrested two crew members during a patrol off the waters of Villanueva, Misamis Oriental on April 9, 2026.
The operation began after an intelligence report received on April 5 about a suspicious vessel anchored in the waters of Lagonglong, where it was allegedly approached by multiple motorized bancas possibly involved in the illegal distribution of diesel.
The joint operation involved the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 10, Lagonglong Municipal Police Station, Villanueva Municipal Police Station, 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company, Regional Intelligence Division 10, Regional Maritime Unit 10, Bureau of Customs 10, and the Philippine Coast Guard–Northern Mindanao.
Authorities discovered that the vessel, identified as M/T Coral Song, lacked proper markings and had not notified the Philippine Coast Guard or the Bureau of Customs. SGS Philippines confirmed that the 300,000 liters of diesel on board were unmarked and had not undergone proper customs processing.
Arrested were the ship’s captain, 71, of Sipalay City, and the chief mate, 63, of Batad, Iloilo.
The seized tanker and its cargo were turned over to the Bureau of Customs Region 10, while the suspects were detained at the Villanueva Municipal Police Station. They face charges under Section 1401 of Republic Act 10863, the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.
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