Police smash fuel scam

Police in Ndola have raided a garage and impounded drums and a South African registered tanker containing fuel worth over K110 million.

The police have also arrested four men, including a South African truck driver, suspected to be involved in a fuel scam.

The suspects have been charged with theft of goods in transit, and they are detained at Ndola’s Masala police station.

The raid was executed on Friday night and the police recovered 135 drums of fuel and a fuel tanker with 35,000 litres of petroleum valued at US$29,000 (about K110 million).

Each drum has a maximum capacity of 210 litres, but it was not immediately clear if all the drums were full to capacity.

Police alleged that the suspects were transporting the contraband to Litande Garage near the Zambia International Trade Fair Grounds where two light trucks were parked, one laden with 102 drums and the other with 33 drums.

The driver of the tanker was identified as Welcome Libande Bongani, the owner of the garage as Austin Mulande.

Two other drivers who were transporting fuel in 210-litre drums were identified as Emmanuel Kanda and Kennedy Sikazwe.

The tanker, registration number ND 275-433, and the two light trucks were carrying fuel imported from South Africa for BP Zambia Limited in Lusaka.

Ndola district deputy police commanding officer, Anderson Chengo said police were still investigating the matter to establish why the fuel was transported to Ndola and not Lusaka which was the destination.

Mr Chengo said police acted swiftly on information received on the theft of fuel and arrest the suspects.

“Yes we have arrested the four men who are custody for theft of goods in transit and will appear in court soon,” he said.

He said the total cost of the fuel in the tanker was estimated at US$29,000 but he could not state the cost for fuel in the other drums, which was suspected to contain diesel.

“We cannot tell the cost because we do not know whether the drums are full or not,” he said.

In another development, police in Ndola have launched a manhunt for a former commando and another man after they allegedly stabbed a man in the stomach at a bar in Kaloko township.

Mr Chengo said the two had gone to the bar with the intention to allegedly steal but faced resistance from Abson Banda who was manning the bar for his friend.

Mr Chengo said that Banda stabbed and was later rushed to Ndola Central hospital where he is admitted.

His condition is stable.

He appealed to members of the public to report the culprits to police.