Police in Thika, Kiambu County, busted an oil syndicate duping Kenyan motorists into purchasing counterfeit petrol disguised as genuine.
In an address to the Press on Wednesday, September 7, Kiambu County Commander Muchangi Kioi noted that the ring had set-up a mini-factory in Thika – next to a dumpsite.
The team collected used petrol from vehicles and added a chemical to it before repackaging and re-selling to unsuspecting customers.
“(the thugs) get used oil extracted from vehicles. They get the oil, place it in the drums and there is a chemical they put in so that the residue sinks (before they package it),” stated the officer.
Police were first alerted of the syndicate while on patrol in the dumpsite area of Thika which compelled them to survey the area.
They were informed that a number of vehicles had been spotted entering and leaving one of the houses – an odd occurrence that raised the eyebrows of its neighbours.
“I confirm that our patrol officers were in the dumpsite area and were informed that one of the houses received vehicles regularly. The officers surveyed the area and found a factory that makes makes oil. When they looked keenly, they found that it was not genuine.
“They entered the house but all the suspects vanished through the backdoor. When they ransacked the house they found the fake oil,” he added.
The syndicate mimicked packaging of well-known brands and sold them to unsuspecting customers.
Some of the users observed that immediately they used the petrol, their vehicles produce large amounts of smoke and, in some instances, their engines knocked.
“We have counterfeit oil (from several companies) . Even the cartons used for packaging were counterfeit.
“I ask citizens whenever they buy the whole, they should look for genuine ones from legitimate shops and petrol stations because the counterfeit version has been stocked in kiosks,” he explained.
Fake oil remains in the tank and can damage car injectors, lines, and fuel pump.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE
