Police in the City of Kigali, on Wednesday December 7, seized 3,120 litres of diesel fuel from a house in Muhima Sector, Nyarugenge District, which was being used as a black market store.
Also arrested is one Steven Mwesigwa, 69, the alleged rightful owner of the fuel, which was recovered from his rental house located in Kabirizi slum of Amahoro Cell in Muhima Sector.
Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Sylvestre Twajamahoro, the Police spokesperson for the City of Kigali, said that Muhima Police station busted Mwesigwa’s house at about 1:30a.m on Wednesday following credible information on his unlawful dealings.
“This was a targeted operation based on credible information that Mwesigwa was running a black market petroleum business. When Police officers arrived at his home at about 1:30 a.m, they recovered 156 jerrycans of diesel fuel from his living room and others in one of the bedrooms. Mwesigwa was also arrested at the scene,” CIP Twajamahoro said.
He was handed over to RIB at Muhima station for further investigations.
“This was so dangerous because the place where he was storing and operating his illegal petroleum business, is congested with many people living in the neighborhood. Anything could spark the fire and the results could be disastrous,” CIP Twajamahoro said.
Mwesigwa was allegedly buying the fuel from truck drivers, including those transporting fuel from depots to various petrol stations.
“It is alleged that he was working with pump attendants and drivers of trucks that transport fuel to petrol stations.
He was also working with other drivers to siphon fuel from their trucks before selling it to taxi-moto operators, taxis and other vehicles,” CIP Twajamahoro explained.
Article 6 of Law No 85/2013 of 11/9/2013 regulating petroleum and petroleum products trade in Rwanda provides that; any person, who shall perform any type of petroleum and petroleum products trade shall have a license from the competent Authority.
In article 22, the petroleum and petroleum products stores and other places exclusively reserved for the parking of petroleum and petroleum products tankers shall be determined by the competent authority. (End).