Nzeto: At least eight lorry drivers travelling the Luanda-Kinshasa international route and vice-versa were arrested last weekend by the National Police in the municipality of Nzeto, Zaire Province, for their alleged involvement in fuel smuggling.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the spokesman for the Provincial Command of the National Police, Intendant Lus Bernardo, explained that the arrest took place at the Loge river checkpoint, between the provinces of Zaire and Bengo. The suspects were reportedly driving trucks with altered tanks and loaded with fuel intended to be smuggled into the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), passing through the Luvo border crossing, in the municipality of Mbanza Kongo.
During the inspection operation, which occurred at around 1 pm, approximately 9,800 litres of fuel were seized in adulterated tanks, known as step tanks, of 800 and 600 litres. Lus Bernardo noted that the National Police in Zaire had recently intensified their efforts against truck drivers illegally transporting diesel and petrol to the DRC along the Luanda-Cabinda-Kinshasa route.
The detainees and the seized equipment are expected to be presented to the Public Prosecutor’s Office in the coming days for legal proceedings. This incident marks the second time in less than a month that the National Police in Zaire have intercepted lorries headed for the DRC with illegal fuel deposits.