The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, has arrested eight persons in connection with illegal dealings in adulterated Automotive Gas Oil, also known as diesel, at Abereke area of Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
The NSCDC also impounded 39,200 litres of adulterated petroleum products seized from the suspects.
Parading the suspects on Tuesday, the Commandant of NSCDC in Ondo, Mr Hammed Abodunrin, said the suspects were apprehended sequel to a tip-off.
He said, “Based on sustained and credible intelligence our antivandal squad got a wind of some illegal dealers in petroleum products and swung into action monitoring the waterways for about two weeks. However, luck ran out of them as they were sighted and arrested along Abereke area”
According to him, during the interrogation, the suspects who had admitted to the commission of the crime informed the command that they loaded their boats and took off from Delta State.
“They confessed that they were contracted by one Mr Adeyemi Ogunkade who handed over to them for boats loaded with diesel. The first, second, and the third boats were loaded with 40 drums of 200litres each while the fourth boat conveyed 36 drums of 200litres each which totalled 39,200litres of suspected adulterated automotive gas oil,” Abodunrin explained.
The NSCDC boss stressed that the command under his watch will continue to fight the menace of vandalism and illegal dealings in petroleum products.
He added that the suspects would be appropriately charged to court at the completion of all investigations on the matter.