Chronicle Editor
Peter Matuka, Chronicle Correspondent
POLICE in Hwange have recovered 25 000 litres of diesel suspected to have been stolen from a haulage truck, in containers at a local fuel service station.
The police launched investigations after a trucker made a report about the theft of diesel from a truck he had parked near a garage on Sunday night.
This comes as the illegal sale of fuel is rampant around the country including along highways where some truck drivers connive with dealers to drain fuel from trucks to sell on the parallel markets.
Some fuel stations also divert fuel to the black market for high profits and this is done by some attendants without the knowledge of garage owners.
On Tuesday, a police team comprising Criminal Investigations Department officers and Support Unit teamed up to investigate the case.
They are keen on interviewing two suspects for unlawfully possessing 25 000 litres of diesel.
It is alleged that the complainant, a truck driver discovered that some fuel had been drained from his truck.
He traced shoeprints which led him to a fuel service station where the drums were recovered from a room.
The fuel comprised 49 by 210 litre drums, 10 by 1 000 litres and 8 by 25 litre containers filled with diesel.
Also recovered was 2 by 1 000 litre drums, 81 by 25 litre containers, 22 by 210 litre drums and 9 by 210 litre empty containers.
There were also two petrol pumps in the room.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda confirmed receiving the report.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter