Africa-Press – Mozambique. The Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) in the city of Beira detained two individuals, aged between 38 and 42, suspected of stealing 84 drums of 20 litres each of diesel, totalling 1,680 litres.
The arrest took place at around 7 p.m. on the 22nd in the Praia Nova area, near the Grande Hotel, during an inspection operation carried out by the Coastal, Lake and River Police.
According to one of the detainees, who presented himself as the alleged buyer, the incident began when he was contacted by an unknown driver who offered to sell him a “bolada”, in this case a considerable quantity of fuel at a reduced price. The meeting to conclude the deal was set for 7 p.m. at Manganhe beach, in a discreet location, allegedly to avoid drawing attention.
The suspect stated that he paid 600 meticais per drum, intending to resell them at 1,000 meticais each for immediate profit. However, he later contradicted himself by declaring that he had paid only 38,000 meticais for the entire quantity.
However, 84 drums at 600 meticais each would total 50,400 meticais. If he in fact paid 38,000 meticais for the entire consignment, this would place the price per drum at approximately 452 meticais — significantly lower than the amount he initially stated — raising suspicions that he may have withheld information.
The driver, owner of the vehicle used to transport the diesel, stated that he had merely been hired at his rank for 3,000 meticais at around 4 p.m. to transport drums that were being filled from a tanker lorry in the vicinity of the 100 Horas fuel station, near Praia Nova. When questioned about the transport taking place at dusk, he said he had not found it unusual, as he had been assured that those involved possessed legal documentation — a version that also contradicts the alleged buyer’s account.
According to the PRM spokesperson, the diesel is believed to have been stolen from a ship that has not yet been identified.
Source: Rádio Sofala FM
