On Friday, the captain of the Humilde Viajero - a fuel vessel with a suspect cargo which is moored off Big Creek - was remanded for "failing to provide advance cargo information" for just under 55.000 gallons of diesel fuel and for being "recklessly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of the laws & restriction of customs relating to the importation of goods."
But a document obtained by 7News shows that 9 days before charges were brought, the Department of the Environment reached out to the importer, Belize Petro Spirits and Distribution Ltd. and its principal Ming Pei Chen. Despite multiple flagrant violations, they offered him the opportunity to resolve the matter "administratively." Chen was asked to contact the Department within two working days to discuss an "administrative resolution."
We note that the vessel entered Belizean waters without the required import license and without the necessary prior arrangements for vessel registration and customs processing.
More than all that, the fuel can't be used locally. The letter form DOE says, quote, "It is classified as marine fuel and does not meet the specifications established under the Belize Standards Specifications for Diesel Fuel."
As such, the fuel will be disposed of, specifically, taken by Customs and the DOE staff to a designated location for final disposal.
