SANTO DOMINGO.- The latest tax evasion scandal on fuels has prompted the Government to create a technical commission to evaluate 38 factories, free zones and power companies whose output is 15 megawatts or more and can import tax-exempt fuel.

In the last few months Customs also detected six attempts to smuggle nearly two million gallons of diesel, currently worth RD$231.6 million.

The ministers of Hacienda Vicente Bengoa, and of Industry and Commerce, Jose Ramon Fadul, and Customs director Rafael Camilo yesterday said the commission would render its first report in one week and would be made public.

Representatives of Texaco, Shell and other companies denounced that diesel is smuggled and then sold at 20 pesos less per gallon.

Bengoa said they’ll compare fuel imports with the power companies’ consumption, to determine the situation of each and establish controls.

Customs has seized tankers which tried to smuggle diesel and the trucks to transport it on land, and forced to pay the taxes, as well as to set fines and surcharges.

Bengoa said they also investigate the transfer of fuel on the high seas, which is later brought ashore at the beaches, and that the Navy would deal with it.

Camilo said Customs investigates Cemex Dominicana and other companies, to determine if they receive tax exempt fuel which ends up in the market. He said the case was published because that company had first stated it had paid and wasn’t true.

Fadul added that a tanker which brought 8,000 gallons of diesel 20 days ago is being retained in Barahona (southwest), and another one which brought 20,000, but didn’t specify were.