The Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested three suspects and impounded a tanker loaded with 45,000 litres of suspected illegally acquired ethanol.
The Command’s Commandant, Mrs. Geraldine Abetianbe, disclosed this to journalists in Uyo, revealing that the operation was executed by operatives acting on credible intelligence.
The interception took place at approximately 13:00 hrs on June 23 at Ikot Umo Essien, along Aba Road in Essien Udim Local Government Area of the state.
According to Commandant Abetianbe, the enforcement action was prompted by reasonable suspicion surrounding the legitimacy of the cargo and its transit.
Upon interception and subsequent interrogation, the suspects presented a waybill that immediately raised red flags due to glaring discrepancies.
Further investigation and inquiries conducted by the command to verify the authenticity of the declared loading point returned negative, confirming that the product was not sourced through legitimate channels.
The Commandant attributed the successful operation to robust inter-agency synergy, mutual respect, and timely information sharing.
She firmly warned that illegal dealings in petroleum products constitute a severe act of economic sabotage rather than a minor offense.
Abetianbe emphasized that such illicit activities deprive the government of crucial revenue, endanger innocent lives through product adulteration and risk of explosions, and ultimately undermine national security.
Reiterating the corps’ core mandate, Abetianbe assured the public that the NSCDC, as the lead agency tasked with protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, remains relentless in its duties.
She vowed that the command will sustain its aggressive crackdown on vandals, illegal bunkerers, product adulterators, and anyone involved in the diversion or illegal transportation of petroleum products within the state.
