Police foil attempt to steal 4,500 litres of fuel in Matola

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Police foil attempt to steal 4,500 litres of fuel in Matola

1:32 CAT | 30 Oct 2018

Photo: O País

The attempted theft of more than 4,500 litres of fuel from the Matola fuel terminal in Maputo province ended with the arrest of six individuals including a security guard. The gang was caught red-handed in possession of more than 150 30-litre drums of fuel.

A total of seven individuals were involved in the attempted robbery at Petromoc’s Matola terminal, but one of the participants managed to escape and only six were detained. The detainees profess ignorance of who the ringleader was and maintain that they have been deceived into committing the crime.

The thieves were said to be transported in two mini bus-type vehicles bearing the signage Malhampsene / Mozal and Patrice-Lumunba / Anjo Voador. At first glance one might think that the two mini-buses would be carrying passengers, but the drivers had instead opted for the world of crime.

The unsuccessful gang was spotted at the warehouse on Sunday night. One of the members of the group told the newspaper O País that he was deceived, while the guard says he did not notice the men entering.

One of the gang members, who declined to be identified, said: “I did not know that it was really for us to steal fuel. When the gentleman arrived I was confident that we would be doing a lawful job and not stealing things from the owner. But when we arrived at the place, he disappeared for 30 minutes and suddenly the police appeared and arrested us.”

Police spokesman Fernando Manhiça said that this was not the first case of this nature, adding that the police had already opened a case for legal follow-up.

In 2015, the attempted theft of fuel from the Matola terminal culminated in an explosion that killed more than 17 people and injured several more in one of the worst tragedies of the last three years.

By José Macamo

Source: O País