Authorities in Laikipia County have seized over 8,000 litres of adulterated petroleum products suspected to be stolen from a British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK) camp.
Laikipia County Commissioner Joseph Kanyiri speaking in Thingithu Estate where the fuel products were discovered in one of the palatial residential units, further said that vehicles spare parts were also impounded, all the products including petrol valued to be over one million.
“We have discovered assorted petroleum products and equipment suspected to be obtained through criminal means from some of our security camps. All valued over one million Kenyan shillings,” revealed Kanyiri.
He revealed that Army vehicles were frequently seen not far away from where illegal cartels operated, which they believed that the trucks were being siphoned before transporting the adulterated fuel to the designated area.
“What we have gathered is that some vehicles were seen driven to some points, they called them KCC, petroleum products are milked from them. But other products, we suspect were stolen from the stores and sold to this person who knows where to resell,” revealed the administrator.
Kanyiri said that they were tipped-off by members of the public and at the same time urged residents to be vigilant on anyone dealing with the lethal items since they were being exposed to the danger of the flammable products.
The administrator said that following the tip-off, one prime suspect was arrested and they were investigating to crack down on the syndicate involved in the illegal dealings within the county.
“We have one prime suspect and we will be looking for others and we thank residents for giving us this information. This matter will be investigated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation(DCI) aimed at prosecuting the culprits,” said the county boss.
Kanyiri warned that it was illegal to handle petroleum products without permission from the concerned agencies.
It was not immediately established for how long the suspects operated the illegal petroleum siphoning from the army camp.
Kanyiri said that there was also an illegal power connection in the same premise.
By Muturi Mwangi
