The Western and Central Regional zonal offices of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has confiscated over 10,000 litters of smuggled fuel in some unauthorized outlets in the Shama, Sekondi-Takoradi and the Ahanta West Districts in the western region. The product, apart from being traded illegally was also of a poor quality after field test.
The NPA, in collaboration with the security agencies, targeted illegal table-top vendors of petrol and diesel in the region. They stormed illegal outlets at old Daboase on the main Takoradi-Accra Road and Apimanim in the Ahanta West District on the Tarkwa-Takoradi Road.
In the process, over 10,000 litres of diesel were confiscated. Some of the vendors were selling diesel in gallons along the streets whilst others were at established locations.
At Daboase Junction where over 7,000 litres of diesel were impounded, the most of the dealers were seen selling the products in small shops in front of their houses. At Apimanim, over 3,000 litres of the petroleum product were confiscated by the officials of NPA from a dealer who was operating in his house at a cottage called ‘Sobibor’.
The owner of the illegal business was absent when the officials from NPA visited. However, a search conducted in the house revealed various gallons and drums that were used to store the product.
Samples of the product, which were tested by the NPA with the LSX machine, revealed that the fuel being sold was of poor quality and had the tendency to destroy the engines of vehicles that patronized the fuel.
Speaking to journalists, officials of NPA indicated that the operation would promote the retail of quality petroleum products.
Traders sold products at unapproved prices and adulterated fuel to make higher profit margins, they disclosed.
They explained that the NPA Law prohibits unlicensed persons from being in possession of petroleum product in quantities unreasonably in excess of that person’s immediate requirement.
“The fear is that the illegal sale of petroleum products could lead to explosions, as the dealers of the highly inflammable fuel operate with no safety measures,” he indicated.
“We are doing this to ensure that we sanitize the downstream industry. We want to ensure that standards are applied across board in all aspects of the industry. The clamp down will be extended to other parts of the country,” they declared.
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