Oil theft: Police impound 15 trucks, arrest 13 in Rivers

The Inspector-General of Police Special Taskforce on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering has said its operatives impounded over 900,000 litres of adulterated diesel and 30,000 litres of stolen crude oil in Rivers State.

The Commander of the team, DCP Usman Kanfani, disclosed this while parading some suspects before journalists at the task force’s base within the Port Harcourt Refinery Complex, Eleme, Rivers State, on Wednesday.

Kanfani said the task force also arrested 13 suspects, impounded15 trucks loaded with 45,000 litres of diesel each, and two short trucks with 12,000 litres of products each in different locations in the state.

Kanfani, who was represented by the Acting Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the seizures and arrests were made between February and March 2022.

The commander said some of the adulterated drums of diesel were concealed in two container trucks carrying foodstuffs and fertilisers.

He further said the task force in 2021 impounded 20 trucks, arrested 29 suspects and had 21 cases ongoing in the court, while142,900 litres of diesel, 30,000 litres of low pour fuel oil and 9,900 litres of fuel were forfeited to the government.

“One tanker loaded with about 30,000 litres of tested crude oil was also intercepted in the Oyigbo area of Rivers State,” Kanfani stated.

He said samples of the products were collected and tested in laboratories and the results revealed that the products did not meet the specifications of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.

He warned criminal elements who engaged in oil theft and illegal oil bunkering to desist, saying the task force would ensure they faced the law if they continued.

“These criminals also stuff adulterated petroleum products in sacks and jerrycans and load them in saloon cars, buses and other vehicles to convey them to various buyers.  Efforts are on to arrest other suspects in connection with the offence,” he added. Punchng