Singapore’s Police Coast Guard (PCG) has arrested eight crew members for their alleged involvement in an illegal marine gas oil (MGO) transfer between two tugboats in the nation’s coastal waters.
During a routine patrol on October 10, officers boarded a Singapore-registered tugboat and found signs of unauthorized fuel transfers. The inspection led to the interception of a foreign-flagged tugboat operating nearby, where additional evidence was discovered.
Investigations revealed that three Singaporean crew members had misappropriated around 8,000 liters of MGO, worth an estimated USD 6,900, and sold it to the crew of the foreign vessel without company authorization. Police also seized 92 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes found on board.
The three Singaporean crew members were charged with criminal breach of trust by employees, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment and fines. The five foreign crew members were charged with dishonestly receiving stolen property, punishable by up to 5 years in prison or fines, or both.
A Police Coast Guard spokesperson said the authorities take a serious view of fuel theft and illegal bunkering, stressing that such crimes undermine Singapore’s position as the world’s leading bunkering hub.
Singapore handles over 50 million tonnes of marine fuel annually, and authorities have stepped up patrols and inspections to combat fuel misappropriation and smuggling in territorial waters.
