Police arrest four, seize 471 litres of fuel in Nkhata Bay

The four were arrested by Nkhata Bay police for allegedly illegally possessing and selling petrol at Sanga, Mkondezi, and the Nkhata Bay Turn-Off (By Tionge Hara)

The four suspects

Malawi: Police in Nkhata Bay district arrested four people for allegedly illegally possessing and selling fuel (petrol) at Sanga, Mkondezi, and Nkhata Bay Turn-offs, and confiscated 471 litres of the liquid.

The suspects are Tafa Gondwe, 35, of Chibore Village and Lloyd Chiumia, 30, of Msawanika Village, both of which are located in the district's Senior Chief Mkumbira.

They were discovered with 40 and 61 litres, respectively.

Pelezi Mhone, 60, of Mgolozera Village, and Isaac Kamanga, 28, of Mzizimanga Village, both of Traditional Authority Mkumbira in Nkhata Bay District, were also apprehended with 320 and 50 litres, respectively.

The suspects were apprehended on October 13, 2022, during a special operation to ensure that people follow Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) rules and regulations.

The operation also aimed to protect the community from the dangers that fuel stored in homes can pose.

The suspects will appear in court on October 14, 2022, to answer charges of illegally possessing and selling fuel.

Meanwhile, for the safety of their locomotives, police in the district are advising drivers and riders to avoid purchasing fuel from unauthorised vendors (black markets).

Police have also warned other illegal vendors to stop their bad behaviour and follow the recommended rules and regulations or face legal consequences.