The Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested eight persons in connection with the illegal dealings in adulterated automotive gas oil, also known as diesel, at the Abereke area in the 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 state Commandant of the agency, Mr Hammed Abodunrin, said the suspects were apprehended after a tip-off.
He said, “Based on sustained and credible intelligence, our anti-vandal squad got wind of some illegal dealers in petroleum products and swung into action, monitoring the waterways for about two weeks. However, luck ran out on the suspects as they were sighted and arrested along the Abereke area.”
Abodunrin said the suspects, who admitted to the crime, claimed that they took off from Delta State.
“They confessed that they were contracted by one Ogunkade, who handed over to them the boats loaded with diesel. The first, second and third boats were loaded with 40 drums of 200 litres each, while the fourth boat conveyed 36 drums of 200 litres each, which totalled 39,200 litres of suspected adulterated automotive gas oil,” he added.