16,000 gallons of illegal fuel found in 2 vessels at Parika

…5 in custody

Agents of the Guyana Energy Authority (GEA) intercepted two vessels containing 16,000 gallons of illegal fuel at Parika Stelling, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), on Friday last.
Following the discovery of the illegal fuel, the Guyana Police Force was informed and an investigation has commenced.
Based on reports gathered, the first vessel was captained by a 56-year-old man of Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD). During the search and seizure, the crew comprised of three persons – a 55-year-old resident of Good Success, Wakenaam; a 54-year-old of Orenstein, East Bank Essequibo, and a 20-year-old of Meten-Meer-Zorg – who were arrested.
The other vessel was reportedly captained by a 44-year-old of Greenwich Park, East Bank Essequibo. All five persons were detained and are assisting Police with the investigation.
Guyana Times understands that the fuel is being smuggled by a well-known business in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). It is believed that the fuel came from Venezuela.
Back in 2017, the GEA had announced that a total of 11,000 gallons of illegal gasoline and diesel were seized from 29 discoveries following 12,882 site visits and 33,891 samples collected. This resulted in six convictions, while compensation was accepted from four individuals under GEA legislation in the sum of $1,237,000.
Four months into 2018, the regulatory body had announced it has seized in excess of 9000 gallons of gasoline and diesel as part of its anti-smuggling campaign. Inspectors would have visited 3191 sites and collected 8339 fuel samples in the first quarter of the year.
This information came on the heels of a shipping vessel Jubliee being discovered with over 200,000 gallons of suspected smuggled fuel, when it entered the Georgetown port and its officials failed to disclose that it had fuel to customs officials until checks were made.
Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia later informed that Directors of the company that owns the vessel would have to pay some $36 million in taxes to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). The vessel was to be impounded until the dues are paid. According to records, the fuel transported on the vessel was purchased in Trinidad with Suriname as the destination port. After that arrangement fell through, however, the vessel reportedly docked here.

Licensing
The GEA, through its Legal and Licensing Division, is responsible for “monitoring the performance of the energy sector in Guyana, including the production, importation, distribution and utilisation of petroleum and petroleum products” in accordance with Section 5 (2) (c) of the GEA Act Chapter 56:05 as well as the provisions of the Petroleum and Petroleum Products Regulations 2014. The latter deals with permitting the issuance of licences of the various categories (import, wholesale, retail, bulk transportation carrier, storage, export, consumer installation) and site and vehicle inspections.
These licences are required for the conduct of different types of activities concerning petroleum and petroleum products, which include diesel, gasoline, kerosene, aviation fuel, lubricants and LPG.
As of the end of 2017, there were 13 Import and Importing Wholesale Licences for the importation of fuel – that is, diesel, gasoline, kerosene, and aviation fuel.