The Lagos state police have found an illegal fuel depot under the Opebi link bridge in Onigbongbo local government area of the state.
It was learnt that the illegal fuel depot was discovered during a joint raid by a team of operatives in the state Police Command Headquarters and policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad.
The operation was reportedly led by Mr. Fatai Owoseni, the Lagos state Commissioner of Police and the RRS Commander, Mr. Olatunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police.
It was gathered that eight suspects with connections to the discovery were arrested during the operation.
Owoseni said the suspects have been engaged in the adulteration of petroleum products which they sold to unsuspecting members of the public.
He said, “With what we have seen, the magnitude of the illegal activities taking place there shows that the suspects had been operating for some years. Things like such show why some people would buy new cars, new generators and they would tell you that they fuelled them and their engines knocked. The suspects are probably the criminal minds behind such things.
“They have so many drums; they even have many tankers. They take the adulterated products out to sell to unsuspecting members of the public and we end up in some cases with fire incidents.”
The Commissioner of Police, who added that the leader of the gang was among the eight suspects arrested, said a thorough investigation would be carried out, while those found culpable would be prosecuted.
“No stone would be left unturned to get all the people that are involved and we will ensure that our investigation is carefully handled and done to a logical conclusion. At the end of the day, we will get the people and deal with them according to the law,” the CP added.
Owoseni said the area had been cordoned off by the police pending the conclusion of the investigation.
“A stop is going to be put to the activities of the illegal dealers. We have mechanics here, who are here illegally; we have food vendors here. Once the illegal business taking place here is stopped, they also have to relocate somewhere else and run their businesses legitimately,” Owoseni said.