NSCDC confiscates 45,000 litres of illegal petroleum products in Akwa Ibom

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, have impounded a tanker with 45,000 litres of illegally acquired petroleum products.

The NSCDC State Commandant, Mrs Geraldine Abetianbe, who disclosed this at a press briefing on Friday, said three suspects were arrested during the operation, which followed credible intelligence.

She said, ”On June 23, at about 1300hrs, our operatives acting on credible intelligence intercepted a petroleum tanker at Ikot Umo Essien, along Aba Road, in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The tanker, with a capacity of 45,000 litres, was laden with a product suspected to be ethanol acquired illegally.”

According to her, upon interrogation by operatives of the command, the suspects presented a waybill which immediately raised suspicion due to several discrepancies.

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Abetianbe added that further investigation and inquiry conducted to confirm the authenticity of the declared point of loading returned negative.

The commandant warned that illegal dealing in petroleum products in the country was not just a crime, but an act of economic sabotage.

According to her, illegal dealing in petroleum products deprived the government of revenue, endangers lives through adulteration and explosions, and undermines national security.

She reiterated that NSCDC, as the lead agency in the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, would not relent in carrying out its mandate.