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GEA seizes boat smuggled gasoline

Sep 26, 2011 News

Officials from the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) in collaboration with ranks of the Guyana Police Force have seized a boat with over 60 drums of smuggled gasoline.
The boat which was intercepted last Wednesday at Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast, is presently moored at the Parika Stelling, before making the onward journey to Port Georgetown.
According to reports the police acting on a tip off went to the Hampton court area where they found the boat loaded with 63 drums of fuel.
They secured the vessel and summoned operatives from the GEA who subsequently tested the fuel and found that it was illegal.
It is not clear if anyone was detained on the boat which is reportedly owned by one “Punter”.
After securing the vessel at the Anna Regina Koker for a few days, it was subsequently escorted yesterday the Parika Stelling where it is being kept under tight security.
A recent Wikileaks cable report stated that ExxonMobil executives had informed a US Embassy official that an estimated 20% of the fuel available on the Guyanese market is smuggled out of Venezuela.
The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) had recently reported success with its Fuel Marking Programme.
The agency is convinced that its efforts are leading to a reduction in the sale of illegal fuel in Guyana or at least distorting efforts to do so.
During last year, the Agency said fuel was sampled and tested in all areas of Guyana, resulting in the seizure of 21,000 gallons.
Of the 24,329 samples analysed during 2010, significant levels of adulteration (defined as more than 50 per cent) were detected in two per cent of the samples analysed, the GEA stated.
It added that from 2006 to 2010, the percentage of sites found with significant dilution in at least one tank has progressively decreased from 34 per cent in 2006 to three per cent in 2010.
“The data suggests that either fewer sites are dealing in illegal fuel or that illegal fuel is no longer stored on site,” the GEA stated.
The Agency said that it believes that the Fuel Marking Programme is contributing to a reduction in the number of sites dealing with illegal fuel.
Automated bulk injection marking systems have been installed at all the major fuel terminals in Guyana to improve the security of the marker concentrate and fuel marking operations.  A significant quantity of marker concentrate was stolen from the GEA compound by armed robbers on September 30, 2010.
According to the Agency, the successes of the Fuel Marking Programme are inextricably linked to the support of the Task Force on Fuel Smuggling and Contraband chaired by Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee.
The GEA said the Task Force has been instrumental in preparing Standard Operating Procedures to promote coordinated and efficient inter-Agency operations between the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Revenue Authority, Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil).
Cooperation under the Task Force ensured the successful detention of illegal fuel, suspects, vehicles, vessels and subsequent institution of charges, the Agency reported.

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