DCI, EPRA Officials Arrest 41 People Siphoning Over 17,000 Litres Of Fuel

A multi-agency team comprising detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and officials from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on Friday, April 12 arrested 41 suspects behind a petrol station in Nairobi.

In a statement, DCI revealed that the suspects were found transacting in the illegal business at an undeveloped yard behind the petrol station off Lunga Road in Nairobi, as part of the fight against illegal trade in adulterated fuel and increased cases of siphoning.

Five tankers were found at the site where over 17,020 litres of Diesel, 6,110 litres of Petrol, four generators, 30 drums, siphoning pipes and jerrycans were recovered.

Trailers impounded by detectives and EPRA officials at the Lunga area in Nairobi on April 12, 2024. /DCI

The recovered items were impounded, with DCI Crime Scene Investigators and EPRA officials documenting the scene.

"Acting on intelligence, the Operation Support Unit team recently deployed to curb the unbecoming trend surrounded the site, rounding up the numbers who were trading with impunity. 

"In the yard were two petroleum trailers both loaded with petroleum products, but whose three compartments were without security seals," stated the DCI in part.

Three other petroleum tankers were also found loaded with some amount of petroleum products suspected to have been siphoned from the trailers.

A Nissan Sunny car loaded with 50 litres of petrol was also detained.

According to documents in one of the trailers, the fuel was from the shell depot destined for the New Gatitu petrol station in Thika. 

The suspects have been escorted to custody pending arraignment on Monday, April 15, 2024.

Back on March 10, 2023, an accident that occurred at Kamagut along the Eldoret-Webuye Highway saw four people siphoning fuel from a tanker succumb to injuries after it exploded, outlining the dangers that come with siphoning fuel.

Section 92(b) of the Petroleum Act 2019 stipulates that a person who stores, transports, or offers for sale adulterated Petroleum products, commits an offence

Upon conviction, that person shall be liable to a fine of not less than five million shillings or to a term of imprisonment of not less than two years or both.

Wreckage of the tanker that caught fire and a bucket used by one of the victims to siphon oil. /CITIZEN TV