The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Akwa Ibom State has arrested nine suspected smugglers and impounded three trucks conveying 135,000 litres of petroleum products.
According to The PUNCH, the state Commandant, Mr. Eluyemi Eluwade, the trucks were halted for a routine inspection, and the suspects were unable to produce complete relevant documents, leading to their arrest.
Eluwade said the suspects were arrested by the Anti-vandal Unit of the command on July 14 along the Ikot Abasi- Port Harcourt Expressway.
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 added that another suspect was also arrested by operatives of the agency on July 15 in Idu Uruan, Uruan LGA for criminal conspiracy, tampering and theft of armoured cable in a transformer at the Nigeria Medical Association Centre in Uruan.
According to him, the suspect who was under investigation was believed to have connived with criminals who breached the security of the facility where he was providing security and vandalised and stole armoured cable.
While restating the commitment of the NSCDC to curtail all forms of illegalities; including; illegal bunkering, adulteration of petroleum products, operating without a license, illegal refining and others, the commandant warned against vandalism of public utilities; describing it as a crime against the society, as it deprives everyone the common good they are meant to enjoy.
All the suspects, he said, would be charged in Court as soon as investigations are completed.
