Customs department faces claims of discrimination

Paul Piscopo, owner of Dimitria Fishing Company, filed a judicial protest claiming he was being treated differently than other companies whose vessels were also seized by customs over undeclared fuel.

Back in July, Customs Officers seized four vessels after discovering undeclared diesel onboard the ships. Piscopo argued that 8,000 litres of undeclared diesel were found on his fishing vessel Dimitra. In total, the ship carried 40,000 litres.

The protestor says customs also found 28,000 litres of contraband diesel on MV Padre Pio, 110,000 litres on MV Golden Dawn, and 150,000 litres on MV Silver King. But the owners of the Silver King, in a separate comment to this newspaper, said that the fuel had been purchased legally and had produced invoices as evidence, including taxation documents.

However, while the three ships reached an administrative agreement, paid excise duty on the contraband fuel and were released from customs, the Dimitria was refused the same opportunity. The fishing vessel remains seized.

In his judicial protest, Piscopo claimed that the vessel was not being maintained as it should be and was left stationary, causing damage to the vessel itself. The owner said he was also suffering damages due to the discriminatory treatment by the Customs department.

Lawyers Veronique Dalli, David Camilleri and Dean Hili signed the judicial protest.