T&T authorities make big bust in diesel fuel racket

Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine checks out one of the seized vessels that was transporting diesel fuel

The Trinidad & Tobago Coast Guard has seized two vessels that were carrying 100,000 gallons of diesel fuel. The vessels were intercepted last Thursday in the Gulf of Paria.

Officials say they were camouflaged to look like fishing trawlers with large metal fishing cages on the stern. However the entire lower deck was configured and customised to hold large amounts of fuel. One of the boats had a false bottom and a valve which could have been used to pump the fuel.

Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine went to the Coast Guard headquarters at Staubles Bay Thursday where he met with Comptroller of Customs and Excise, Fitzroy John, Coast Guard Commander Hiram Mohammed and Coast Guard Public Relations Officer Lieutenant Kirk Jean-Baptiste.

Jean-Baptiste said Coast Guard officials became suspicious and boarded the ships, which he said "reeked of fuel" and has limited fishing equipment on board.

"What was even more alarming was there were four foreigners on board without proper paper work or documentation," Jean-Baptiste said.

Ramnarine said, "What is clear is that the vessel has been modified and its been modified for the transportation of diesel in bulk. 

"We also confirmed that there was a hydrocarbon substance on the vessel that is contained in these modified compartments."

Ramnarine added, "Fuel subsidy has been a great concern to this Government. This year's subsidy is somewhere in the region on $4 billion. We will be looking to really make a significant dent in the fuel subsidy by dealing with the illegal trade in fuel.

"Based on what I have seen, somebody would have done quite a lot of work to have modified these vessels. That will form part of the investigation," he said.