The Special Task Force on Petroleum and Illegal Bunkering, operating under the office of the Inspector-General of Police, has dismantled a syndicate involved in transporting refined petroleum products to Cameroon,Daily Trust reports.
In July, the task force recovered 13 trucks carrying stolen crude oil, refined Automotive Gas Oil (diesel), and Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) during various operations.
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the spokesman for the Nigeria Police Force, revealed at a press briefing in Abuja that at least 17 individuals were arrested across the country during these operations.
According to Daily Trust, President Bola Tinubu recently instructed the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, to coordinate security forces to stop crude oil theft.
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At the briefing, Assistant Commissioner of Police Adejobi, alongside Special Task Force Commander Bayo Sulaiman, explained that the arrests were made by operatives in Adamawa State.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the syndicate specializes in smuggling crude oil and refined petroleum products to neighboring countries.
“On July 13, 2024, task force operatives in the Adamawa Sector intercepted three Toyota Corolla cars loaded with 130 jerry cans, each with a capacity of 25 liters, filled with what is suspected to be Premium Motor Spirit. One car carried 50 jerry cans, and the other two carried 40 each, totaling 130. The vehicles and exhibits are impounded at the Girei Divisional Police Headquarters in Adamawa State, and the suspects are in custody,” said Adejobi.
Conducting journalists around the impounded trucks, Deputy Commissioner of Police Bayo Sulaiman stated that all 17 arrested suspects have been charged to court, emphasizing that the unit does not hold suspects unnecessarily.
Sulaiman further explained that the police have obtained court approval to forfeit the vehicles, trucks, and other exhibits to the government. “All 17 suspects have been charged. Some are now in prison. The exhibits, including the vehicles, are now government property. Our legal section is working diligently to secure convictions,” he added.
