Jovens algemados. Foto de Carlos Júnior
Maputo, 09 Oct (AIM) – The Mozambican Police (PRM) have arrested 21 individuals for alleged involvement in fuel smuggling in the central province of Zambézia.
The arrests follow the death of eight people as a result of major fire caused by improper fuel storage, four months ago.
According to Marinho Muchanga, Zambezia Police Commander, speaking at a coordination meeting between the government, transport operators, and fuel retailers, a police officer was also sanctioned for his involvement in schemes to facilitate the illegal sale of fuel.
“The officer had been assigned to monitor fuel distribution at a petrol station but allegedly abused his position to fill his own containers and sell the fuel to drivers waiting in the queue to refuel”, Muchanga said, cited by the daily newspaper “Notícias.”
The tragic incidents highlight the growing risks associated with the informal fuel trade in Mozambique, where recurring supply chain disruptions and price disparities often push residents to purchase fuel from illegal vendors.
In many rural and peri-urban communities, petrol and diesel are stored in makeshift residential spaces without proper safety protocols, creating severe fire hazards in high-temperature environments.
Authorities have increasingly targeted illegal distribution networks to curb black-market operations, which not only evade taxation but also jeopardize public safety. Despite heightened law enforcement efforts, the lucrative nature of contraband fuel continues to attract both informal traders and corrupt officials looking to exploit supply shortages for personal gain.
(AIM)
Zt/Am/
