Upper East Police Command to prosecute fuel smugglers

Bolgatanga, Jan. 13, GNA - The Upper East Police Command has said it would not hesitate to prosecute any individual or group of people in the region who would smuggle petroleum products to neighbouring countries especially Togo and Burkina Faso.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Thomas Agbanyo. The statement said the police had stepped up surveillance on the smuggling of petroleum products and that nobody would be spared when caught. It said as part of the measures to curb fuel smuggling, managers of fuel stations in the region had passed a resolution to check fuel smuggling in the region.

The resolution states among other things that there would not be sale of fuel in jerry cans or containers in the night (from 1800 hours to 0600 hours) unless in exceptional cases. Clearance should be sought from the police before large quantity of fuel products could be bought. It further stated that the police should be notified before any sale of fuel of more than five gallons in jerry cans or containers are made. The resolution stated that fuel station managers should submit a list of purchasers of fuel in jerry cans or containers weekly including names, occupation, addresses and telephone numbers and the destination of the fuel to the Police for necessary action. The statement said a breach of the resolution would attract sanction and if possible arrest and prosecution.