The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested an eight-man syndicate that is involved in the illegal bunkering in Ondo State.
The suspects are involved in the illegal bunkering of petroleum products in the Olowo community, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
Briefing newsmen while parading the suspects at the headquarters of the corps in Akure, the state capital, the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Daniel Aidamenbor pointed out that the suspects also engaged in vandalisation of petroleum pipelines, dealing in illegal adulterated petroleum products as well as operating illegal dump storage facilities.
He noted that the squad acted on a credible intelligence swooped on the suspects and apprehended them while loading the product.
According to him, a black Toyota Sequoia SUV with registration number Lagos app 134 dx loaded with 70 kegs of 25 litres of adulterated automotive gas oil (AGO) coming from the dumpsite was impounded by officers.
Also, 28 twenty five litre jerrycans suspected to be filled with adulterated ago, six pumping machines and one counting machine were recovered from the dumpsite.
Other exhibits recovered from the dumpsite are 19 jerrycans 25 litres each od adulterated ago, five drums of 200 litres of suspected ago, three drums of 200 litres capacity that is half-filled and twelve drums of 200 litres capacity that are about a quarter filled.
Two storage tanks with 3500 litres of adulterated ago each, an underground storage tank with four compartments: one empty, while the rest three contain 20,800 litres of AGO.
Aidamenbor added that the dumpsite has since been sealed and secured, adding that the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations into the crime are concluded.
The suspects confessed to committing the crime, claiming to be ignorant and pleading for forgiveness.
