Customs agency launches inspection into illegal distribution of fuel products

▲ This photo taken March 7, 2026, shows trucks lining up at a gas station in Incheon, west of Seoul. (Yonhap)

fuel products-inspection

Customs agency launches inspection into illegal distribution of fuel products

SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- Tax authorities launched Tuesday an intensive inspection into the illegal distribution of petroleum products amid rising global fuel prices.

About 300 personnel will be mobilized to conduct intensive inspections of gas stations and businesses during the two-day operation, after which authorities will decide whether to expand the inspections, the National Tax Service (NTS) said.

The move comes amid rising concerns over the illegal distribution of petroleum products as domestic fuel prices have increased following the intensification of the U.S.-led conflict with Iran in the Middle East.

Authorities said the inspections will target businesses suspected of taking excessive profits by exploiting the surge in fuel prices, according to the NTS.

The inspections will focus on companies suspected of improper reporting, including undocumented petroleum transactions and underreporting of sales after charging inflated prices.

Authorities will also examine the manufacturing and distribution of counterfeit petroleum products and the illegal diversion of tax-exempt fuel.

If tax evasion is confirmed during the inspections, officials said the cases will be immediately converted into formal tax investigations and dealt with strictly.

South Korea, which depends heavily on energy imports, is particularly vulnerable to external price shocks, which often drive inflation.

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