50,000 Gallons of Diesel, No Paperwork…GOB Will Seize

In an interview with News 5, Prime Minister John Briceño said that a full-scale investigation has been launched into the sudden arrival of the oil tanker Humilder Viajero, currently docked at the Big Creek Port.

What was expected to be a routine delivery has instead raised red flags after officials discovered that the vessel lacked proper documentation for the 50,000 gallons of diesel reportedly on board.

Briceno said, “We have seized that tanker, and whosoever is responsible for that tanker will have to answer in a court of law. If necessary, we’re going to seize those 50,000 gallons of diesel to put to use, possibly selling it to Puma to help with some of the challenges we’re facing.”

Briceno added, “From what it seems, and I have to be careful because that will end up in court, this tanker just showed up. There was no documentation. I’m told even the captain said he didn’t know what they had there…no invoice, nothing. Then, all of a sudden, some papers appeared. So we are doing a full investigation. We have the Attorney General’s Ministry working with the Department of the Environment and the Customs Department to ensure that if anything was done illegally, we will deal with it to the full extent of the law.”

When pressed about the possibility of seizing the diesel, Briceno confirmed, “Of course. Yes.”

According to Marinetraffic.com, Humilder Viajero is “a Multi Purpose Offshore Vessel and is sailing under the flag of PANAMA. Her length overall (LOA) is 34 meters and her width is 8 meters.”