The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), in Akwa Ibom State has impounded alleged adulterated products and handed them over to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The items include 25 jerry cans of adulterated diesel, 32 improvised plastic container bags, buckets and other accessories used in carrying out the illicit trade.
Handing over the seized products to Iniobong Ekong, area commandant of the NSCDC, Oron zone, Sunday Ekwi, head of operations, petroleum products crime of IPMAN, said the products were concealed in plastic bags and kept at a location in Afaha Ube, off Atiku Abubakar Avenue, Uyo to avoid detection by security personnel.
He said in an attempt to call the police for re-enforcement, the hoodlums escaped in a Toyota Camry car. According to him, petroleum products smugglers have devised new methods of carrying out their nefarious activities, by concealing drums of adulterated products in improvised plastic bags, so as to beat security agents.
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Ekwi said IPMAN has berthed in Akwa Ibom to collaborate with NSCDC towards eradicating all forms of petroleum products crimes and ensure that adulteration of products is reduced in the state.
“We are determined to assist law enforcement agencies in the state to fight petroleum products crimes because; it is an act of sabotage against the Federal Government and an injury to our economy”.
He further stated that adulteration and smuggling of petroleum products was a common crime around the riverine areas of the state, because of the terrain, promising that IPMAN team would soon embark on awareness campaigns in riverine communities on the dangers of adulterated products.
The zonal head of NSCDC in Oron, Iniobong Ekong while receiving the items, commended IPMAN monitoring team for assisting the agency in the fight against petroleum products crimes in the state.
She urged the IPMAN monitoring team to liaise with the NSCDC and other security agencies in the fight against crimes in the state.
