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Diesel, petrol seized by the barrel from shady traders
View(s):Scarce fuel is being found stocked illegally by the barrel by opportunists at various locations in the country.
The demand for fuel is insatiable and some Sri Lankans are willing to pay asking prices. This has given rise to the underground trade.
The seized 3,000 litres of diesel from a hardware shop in Vavuniya
“The increasing demand for petrol and diesel has resulted in large stocks of fuel collected for the purpose of selling at exorbitant prices. Police intelligence teams are deployed to detect such large scale hoarders,” said Police spokesman, Senior Superintendent of Police, Nihal Thalduwa.
He asked people to call 119 or 118 and provide information of suspected illegal sales of fuel.
Those charged and convicted face heavy fines and the confiscation of the fuel.
During the past few weeks, police have carried out 932 raids and arrested 861 suspects involved in hoarding fuel and selling illegally. Among the confiscated fuel stocks are 26,672 litres of petrol, 54,334 litres of diesel, and 12,245 litres of kerosene.
This week, a team from Vavuniya police seized 3,000 litres of diesel from a hardware shop in Pattanichoor in Vavuniya. The diesel was in 15 barrels, each holding 200 litres. Vavuniya police said the businessman had planned to sell at a higher price.
Similarly, 900 litres of diesel were found in barrels in a storage in Thummodara, Marawila.
The Sunday Times has learnt that petrol and diesel can sell for between Rs. 1,000 and Rs 1,500 per litre in underground transactions.
Pix by Romesh Madushanka and Eshan Fernando
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