Etim Effiong
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has secured 13 convictions and confiscated 3,000 drums of illegal petroleum products from dealers in Akwa Ibom.
The state Commandant of the corps, Mr Samuel Fadeyi, said this in Uyo on Friday.
According to him, the men were convicted between February and June for dealing in illegal and adulterated petroleum products.
Fadeyi stated that the command was working in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, which patrols Nigerian territorial waters to achieve the success. He said, “I can tell that as of February to June 2020 we have had about 13 convictions, or I would say 13 judgements and the individuals involved in those cases amount to 40 suspects.
“They were convicted for one crime or the other, especially in illegal dealing in petroleum products. Due to that judgements, we have confiscated a lot of petroleum products.
“Most of these convictions arise from transportation or attempted transportation of petroleum products from Nigerian shores to the Cameroon in drums.
“Their excuses are always that they are fishermen in the creeks. They come to normal petrol station to purchase it under the guise of taking it to creeks but before you know, they have diverted to Cameroon.
“And we have been working with the Nigerian Navy on this. So, as we are making our own arrest, the Navy is making their own arrest and hand over to us and we account to them and the Nigerian public.”
The state commandant commended the judiciary for the good working relationship with the agency, that despite the coronavirus pandemic they were able to secure the conviction.
He said that over 3, 000 drums of confiscated petroleum products were in their custody and would be auctioned if they were in good condition or destroyed if bad.
The state commandant said that the command would continue to do its best in the protection of government critical infrastructure.