Police bust suspected fuel stealing syndicate
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Thursday December 21, 2017 13:49
The suspects – three Batswana men, one Tanzanian and two Zimbabweans – were caught in a certain yard in possession of 20 x 210 litres and 12 x 12 litres drums of suspected stolen diesel. One of the suspects is alleged to be a truck driver of a certain bulk liquid fuel transporting company known to Mmegi.
It is alleged that the six men aged between 38 and 67 years are part of a fuel stealing syndicate. It is also said that the police pounced on the suspects while they were busy offloading diesel at a certain yard in Selokwane ward in Tlokweng.
Acting Divisional Crime Investigation Department (CID) officer, Detective Senior Superintendent Sergeant Marapo confirmed that the six men are in custody, assisting police with investigations. Marapo said they suspect that the diesel is stolen in bulk to be sold to truck owners.
“I can confirm that we have arrested six men, who we caught in possession of diesel estimated to be 500 litres. We believe it is a stolen diesel as one of the suspects is a truck driver of one company that transports fuel. The six are in police custody, assisting with investigations,” said Marapo.
He said the price of the recovered diesel is estimated to be over P43,000. He further said they are yet to establish if the other three who are not Batswana are in the country legally.
“We are still investigating. We don’t know if they stay here or have papers to be in the country. If our investigations reveal that they are illegal immigrants, they could be charged with staying in the country unlawfully and theft common while the driver of the truck could be charged with stealing by servant,” he added.