Police impound 15,000 litres of illicit fuel

The impounded fuel being siphoned into jerrycans before it was transported to Tororo Central Police Station. Photo by Joseph Omollo

What you need to know:

  • It’s alleged that the illicit fuel is sold at Shs3,000 and 3,500 shillings per litre of diesel and petrol respectively, while licensed fuel stations sell at Shs3180 and Shs4140 per litre of diesel and petrol respectively. This has forced many motorists to abandon fuel stations, thus causing financial loss to them.

Police in Tororo District have impounded 15,000 litres of illicit fuel, and arrested 10 suspects in connection to the matter.

The Tororo District Police Commander Mr Rogers Chebene told Daily Monitor that the 8,000 litres of diesel and 7,000 litres of petrol was impounded from two ungazetted stores at Ticaf village in Osukuru Sub County along Tororo-Kampala road at around 4am on Wednesday.

“Police staged a crackdown on illicit fuel businesses in the district and managed to impound over 8,000 litres of diesel and 7,000 litres of petrol during the operation,” Mr Chebene, said.
He said the suspects are currently detained at Tororo Central Police Station to help police detectives to establish the source of the fuel.

“The suspects will help police with investigations especially to identifying the source of the fuel and others culprits in this racket,” he said.

Mr Chebene explained that the operation was launched following an outcry over the illicit fuel that has entered the market in the district, causing financial loss to the licensed sellers.

It’s alleged that the illicit fuel is sold at Shs3,000 and 3,500 shillings per litre of diesel and petrol respectively, while licensed fuel stations sell at Shs3180 and Shs4140 per litre of diesel and petrol respectively. This has forced many motorists to abandon fuel stations, thus causing financial loss to them.

Mr Odoi Louis, the village LC1 chairperson, however, castigated the police for raiding people’s businesses.
“This is where they have been earning their living but you look, they have been arrested and closed up their businesses. I wonder how they families will survival now,” he said.