The Goa Police Crime Branch conducted a raid on an illicitly operated center in Dabolim, seizing fuel tankers valued at Rs 1.5 crore. The storage facility was found to be storing petroleum products without the necessary license, violating Essential Commodities Act regulations. This action followed a tip-off about the hoarding of petro products amid strained energy supply lines.
During the operation, the crime branch inspected six fuel tankers and one tipper truck, all of which were confiscated. Samples of the stored combustible liquids were collected for further examination after being sealed. The seized vehicles and petroleum products, estimated at nearly Rs 1.5 crore, were taken into police custody.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the premises and vehicles were allegedly managed by a person named Devendra Naik alias Raju Chawan from Sancoale, Goa. It was discovered that the stored petroleum products were being diverted to the black market at inflated prices, violating various acts including the Petroleum Act, Essential Commodities Act, and Environment (Protection) Act. Legal action has been initiated under relevant sections of these acts.
