In the Western Region, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has apprehended smugglers on the high seas and seized 73,000 liters of crude oil and 108,000 liters of fuel.
Between January and April 2023, the Navy and Marine Police oversaw the separate operations.
This was announced by Mrs. Sandra Aidoo, the NPA’s Western Regional Manager, during a Thursday media event in Takoradi.
“We initially confiscated 108,000 litres of diesel on the high seas in January. The smugglers were arrested and are currently standing trial at the law court. The other was in April when 73,000 litres of crude oil was confiscated,” she said.
Mrs. Aidoo stated that the alleged diesel smugglers were facing legal charges and that the NPA will decide what should be done with the goods following the case’s conclusion.
“For the crude oil, the smugglers bolted, so we have transported the product to Accra, and the public will know what happens to it,” she added.
Mrs. Aidoo stated that the activities of the smugglers were affecting the quality of fuel distributed at the pumps since some filling station owners purchase the products at cheap prices at the blind side of the Authority.
“These cases are very rampant in the Western Region, and it is affecting our operations. These products are not taxed, and the smugglers sell them directly to the stations. The quality of such products can not be guaranteed as well, so we should not allow them into the market,” she said.
The media engagement organized by the Communications Department was to highlight NPA’s activities in the petroleum downstream industry and respond to industry-related questions from the media.
Source: myjoyonline
