The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have for suspects who were attempting to siphon jet fuel from an aircraft undergoing maintenance at Wilson Airport.
In a statement by the DCI, the authority revealed that officers from the Kenya Airport Police Unit (KAPU) intercepted a white Mitsubishi Canter truck within the airport after it aroused suspicion while moving through routine activity unnoticed.
According to the DCI, the police searched the vehicle, where they recovered four drums, each containing 200 litres of jet fuel, believed to have been drained from a plane stationed at the airport.
Reports indicate that the aircraft in question was undergoing maintenance at the time, a situation investigators say may have provided cover for the siphoning.
“A covert attempt to siphon jet fuel and sneak it out under the cover of routine airport activity has been thwarted after sharp-eyed detectives from the Kenya Airport Police Unit (KAPU) intercepted a suspicious vehicle at Wilson Airport.” DCI stated.
“While it tried to blend into the shadows of routine airport activity, the vehicle was carrying a heavy secret: four drums, each brimming with 200 litres of jet fuel,” the statement added.
Detectives revealed that the alleged owner of the consignment did not possess a gate pass authorising access to the restricted area.
Additionally, the vehicle used to transport the fuel was also found to lack the mandatory clearance from the energy and petroleum regulatory authority (epra) required for the movement of petroleum products.
“The alleged owner of the consignment was found to have no gate pass. At the same time, the vehicle itself lacked the mandatory authorisation from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to transport petroleum products,” DCI further stated.
Following the operation , detectives arrested the vehicle’s owner, the driver, and two other suspects, who are currently in custody as DCI intensifies investigations before their arraignment in court.
The four drums and the vehicle were also taken into custody.
