In relation to illicit petroleum product transactions, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Akwa Ibom State command, has detained nine alleged smugglers and seized three trucks transporting 1355,000 liters of the goods in Akwa Ibom.
This was revealed by Mr. Eluyemi Eluwade, the state Commandant of the NSCDC, during a meeting with reporters on Saturday at the Command headquarters in Uyo.
According to Eluwade, the suspects were taken into custody on July 14 along the Ikot Abasi-Port Harcourt Expressway by the command’s Anti-vandal Unit.
He said “The trucks were halted for a routine inspection of documents by NSCDC personnel who insisted on sighting relevant papers including a licence to buy, sell and convey petroleum products as stipulated in the Petroleum Industry Act.
“The inability of the suspects to produce complete relevant documents led to their arrest and their trucks impounded for illegal dealing in petroleum products, an offence punishable by section 17 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.
“Two of the trucks were conveying about 45,000 litres each of Automative Gas Oil (AGO) popularly known as Diesel.
“The third truck was conveying about 45,000 litres of Petroleum Product suspected to be Crude oil or used engine oil, a petroleum by-product for which a license is also required to buy, sell or transport.”
The commandant further stated that on July 15 in Idu Uruan, Uruan LGA, a second suspect was apprehended by agency agents for criminal conspiracy, tampering, and theft of armored cable from a transformer at the Nigeria Medical Association Center in Uruan.
He stated that the under investigation suspect was thought to have collaborated with criminals who broke into the building where he was providing security, took armored cable, and vandalized it.
The commandant cautioned against vandalism of public utilities, describing it as a crime against society because it denies everyone the common good they are meant to enjoy, while restating the NSCDC’s commitment to eliminate all forms of illegalities, including adulteration of petroleum products, operating without a license, illegal refining, and others.
He indicated that as soon as the investigations are over, all of the suspects would face charges in court.
