43 dealers of adulterated oil, arrested in Lagos

A company has been sealed and 43 persons arrested  by Operatives of the Lagos State Task Force for allegedly dealing in adulterated diesel.

The operatives also sealed the company and impounded six trucks loaded with 2.5 million litres of adulterated diesel.

Chairman of Lagos State Task Force, Superintendent of Police (SP), Olayinka Egbeyemi, said the agency acted on petitions written to his office by whistle blowers  on the illegal activities of hoodlums dealing on illegal oil business at Plot 8, Elephant Cement Way, Secretariat, Alausa.

SP Egbeyemi  said operatives stormed the place and arrested 43 suspects caught  mixing diesel with kerosene.

He said it was discovered that the company was  selling  the adulterated oil at a reduced price to the members of the public.

According to Egbeyemi, preliminary investigation with available documents (receipts) revealed that the illegal business had been on for over seven years and that the adulterated diesel was being supplied to members of the public, especially big companies across the state.

“Adulterated diesel  about 2.5 million litres in gallons loaded in six trucks with registration numbers, FST 615 XR, EPE 672 XC, DKW 05 XA, KTU 750 XN, BDG 717 XA, FKJ 327 XH and XR 95 LSD were discovered in the company.

“I thank those who gave us the information about the illegal oil deal in the company and members of the public are urged  to report to appropriate government authority  on any illegal or criminal activities around their environ through the Lagos Emergency Toll-free lines ‘112’ or ‘767.’

According to him, Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has directed that the suspects should be charged to the court.

One of the suspects, Iyiola, told the task force that the company, Jlobjin Petroleum Ltd, belonged to  Alhaji Ojena.

He confessed to the police  that they mix diesel with kerosene and supply big companies,  especially communication firms and banks at cheaper rates..