The intercepted goods being offloaded from the vehicle.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) in collaboration with National Security has arrested five persons suspected to be part of a cartel dealing in illegal smuggling of petroleum products.
The special operation took place at Kpone landing beach near Tema in the Greater Accra Region at about 10pm on Monday.
The ring leader, Isaac Allotey, 34, with four others including the owner of one of the life boats used in the operation, were arrested by the National Security operatives and are currently being investigated.
Two trucks of fuel containing about 300 gallons estimated to be around 9000 litres and two outboard motors were confiscated by the team.
According to the security officials, Allotey claimed he buys each “Kufuor” gallon of fuel at the cost of GH¢80 and he sells it at GH¢100, making a profit of GH¢20.
“He said he pays GH¢10, 000 in both cash and food items to vessel officials before the products are sold to him,” one of the security officials is quoted as saying after the arrests.
Undercover security officials who effected the swoop announced the identification of a route to the open sea where super tankers anchor to sell low quality gasoline and diesel to the cartel of ‘goro men.’
The underground business involves the smuggling of inferior fuel products from the high seas into the country, which not only causes revenue loss to the government, but the product is also injurious to human health.
It would be recalled that officials of the Western Naval Command in Takoradi in the Western Region, in 2017, arrested nine persons and confiscated several vessels suspected to have involved in the use of illegal bunkering.
The arrest was on the back of a warning given by Vice President Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia who renewed government’s commitment to dealing with unscrupulous persons caught to be dealing in illegal smuggling of petroleum products.
Samples of the products are expected to undergo laboratory test by NPA officials to authenticate their quality.
The smuggling of petroleum products has been of a great concern to the NPA, National Security and the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), as it negatively affects government’s revenue and profit margins.
A Daily Guide Report