Aflao police intercept fuel tanker with premix fuel at Viepe

Denu, Oct 9, GNA - A security team including the police and the BNI from Aflao on Wednesday intercepted a fuel tanker discharging premix fuel suspected to have been diverted to Viepe a coastal town near Aflao. There were no documents covering the consignment said to be about 4,500 gallons.

Seth Akwetey, driver of the tanker with registration number GR 7191 G and his mate George Agyemang, were detained overnight at the Denu Police Station. They were said to have been escorted to Accra together with the tanker on the orders of the national security for further investigations. It is not clear who were behind the deal and the original destination of the fuel.

A source close to the Aflao police told the GNA that the Denu police were informed at about 1030 hours on Wednesday that the fuel tanker carrying premix fuel was about discharging at Viepe. He said a security team was immediately dispatched to the area and the two suspects were arrested but others escaped. The source said the driver told the police that the consignment was transferred into the tanker in Tema from another tanker whose driver informed him that his vehicle had developed a fault but did not give him papers covering the fuel.

Mr Evans Kofi Ahiakpor, the Deputy Secretary of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council (GNCFC), confirmed the incident when contacted by the GNA.

He said he had a call on Wednesday inquiring whether he was aware of a tanker about to discharge pre-mix fuel at Aviepe. Mr Ahiakpor said he alerted the police and that contrary to the new regulations, the tanker was not marked as authorized to carry pre-mix fuel. He appealed to the security agencies to conduct thorough investigations into the case so the culprits could be punished. 09 Oct 09