Philippines
Customs monitors, inspects foreign vessels entering PH to curb smuggling
Customs monitors, inspects foreign vessels entering PH to curb smuggling
The Bureau of Customs have started monitoring foreign vessels to check the reasons behind their “deviance from original navigational path” while entering the Philippine territorial waters to curb smuggling.
Five vessels of interest (VOI) were recently flagged by the bureau for sudden change of destination, consequent unloading of cargo, and intentional shutdown of their identification system to avoid detection.
“Some of the foreign vessels that enter Philippine territorial waters have become vessels of interest because of observed deviance from original navigational path such as voyaging far from their normal course of operations,” the bureau said Wednesday.
The vessels were identified as MV Paschalis, MV Pitsa D, MV Dong Yang, MV Zhong Xing Men, and MV Eternal Luck.
Further inspections, however, showed that the VOIs’ deviations were caused by delays.
“Notably, the conducted inspections on five VOIs found no discrepancies and confirmed that the vessels' deviations were caused by delays in schedule, delays in approval of crew change, port congestion and force majeure,” the bureau said.
The inspection, according to the bureau, aims to verify the vessel's completeness of records, safety compliance, cargoes, and other pertinent documents relative to its voyage.
The inspection on the VOIs also confirmed the compliance of the vessels to all applicable rules and regulations.
This operation conducted by the bureau in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard aims to “secure the country's borders and prevent smuggling of contraband, including prohibited and restricted goods without permits.”
It can be recalled that the Customs bureau renewed its partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard through a memorandum of agreement last July 14, 2020 to intensify border control operations.
The partnership is also aimed at improving intelligence sharing and conduct of joint operations in maritime areas of the country.
According to the bureau, they will continuously conduct joint operations to board and inspect VOIs in the country’s territory.
“With all of these proactive actions, the BOC recognizes the continuing challenge of preventing smuggling that may be perpetrated by the VOIs in our country either by shipside discharge, casting overboard of goods and merchandise of any kind, or any form of pure smuggling operations,” the bureau said.