The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced the seizure of seven trucks carrying 315, 000 litres of illegally obtained petroleum products in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
It added that 15 suspects were arrested in connection with the crime.
Mr Eluyemi Eluwade, the state commandant of the NSCDC, disclosed this during a press conference at the command’s exhibit yard in Uyo on Tuesday, saying the suspects were apprehended along the Calabar-Itu highway on July 7 by Anti-Vandal Squad operatives acting on credible intelligence.
“Our newly rejigged Anti-Vandal Squad has arrested 15 suspects for suspected criminal conspiracy and illegal dealing in petroleum products. We have impounded seven trucks with a combined capacity of 315,000 litres of illegally acquired petroleum products,” he announced.
Eluwade said investigations are ongoing to determine if the product is crude oil or High Pour Fuel Oil (HPFO) as claimed by the suspects, noting that samples of the products have been obtained and would be taken for forensic analysis in an NNPC laboratory, after which the suspects will be charged in court.
He further said that from preliminary investigations, the waybills presented by the suspects showed an expired licence to deal in petroleum products and warned that the corps would not tolerate any form of criminality, economic sabotage, or vandalism of government critical infrastructure in the state.
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