SEMARANG: Officers from the Central Java and Yogyakarta directorate general of customs and excise, together with the Central Java Police, intercepted a tanker reportedly attempting to smuggle 133,000 liters of subsidized Premium gasoline out of the country to sell in international waters around Singapore, Malaysia and Batam.
The Equatorial Guinea-flagged MT-BS9 tanker from Africa was intercepted near Parang Island in the Karimunjawa Islands, Jepara regency, Central Java, on Nov. 14.
“The vessel was not equipped with official documents. When intercepted, the tanker was believed to be waiting for another tanker to arrive at Parang Island,” said director general of customs and excise Heru Pambudi.
Heru estimated the value of the illegal shipment at Rp 110 billion (US$8 million) and state losses from tax at Rp 12 billion. “The state is also deprived by the smuggling of subsidized fuel,” he said over the weekend.
