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The Joint Task Force on Illegal Fuel Vending, comprising law enforcement agencies and the Energy Regulation Board (ERB), led by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), has seized approximately 4,695 litres of illegally stored fuel valued at over K153,500.
The operation targeted suspected illegal fuel vending sites in Lusaka and surrounding areas.
DEC Public Relations Officer, Allan Tamba, and ERB Public Relations Manager. Namukolo Kasumpa, confirmed the raid and seizures in a joint statement issued Friday.
According to the officials, the operation, which began on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, and concluded the following morning, was aimed at curbing illegal fuel sales and protecting consumers.
“During the operation, a total of eight individuals were apprehended, including one suspected prohibited immigrant, for offences related to illegal fuel vending,” stated Tamba and Kasumpa.
They added that the suspects were currently in police custody awaiting formal charges.
In addition to the fuel, officers seized 20 drums, 30 twenty-litre containers, four pumps, five 10-litre containers, a generator, and a tanker truck containing siphoning pipes, suggesting active fuel theft.
The raids targeted several sites across Lusaka Province, including Mukwa Road, Katanga Road, Matero Compound, Nampundwe Junction in Lusaka West, Chifwema near the Sinoma Cement area, Chongwe, Shimabala and the Six Miles area.
“The Joint Task Force remains resolute in eradicating illegal fuel vending, which undermines national revenue through tax evasion and poses serious safety risks. Improperly stored fuel can lead to fires, property damage, and loss of life,” the officials emphasized.
Tamba and Kasumpa urged the public to purchase fuel from licensed providers monitored by the ERB for quality and safety.
They also encouraged citizens to report any suspicious fuel vending activities to the DEC, ERB, or other law enforcement agencies.
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