Investigations by the authorities have uncovered an ongoing operation in which thieves have been stealing large amounts of fuel by tapping into a pipeline owned and operated by the Petrojam Oil Refinery in Kingston.

On December 23, one man was detained by members of the security forces after he was seen near where a petrol tanker was hooked up to a Petrojam pipeline that runs along Marcus Garvey Drive. The tank was connected to a hose that had been used to tap into the pipeline about 60 metres away.

The man was questioned and eventually released, police said.

They estimate that more than 20,000 litres had already been siphoned off by the time a police patrol swooped down on the scene.

The section of the pipeline that was breached, sources said, lies between the Coffee Industry Board and the Sugar Warehouse on Marcus Garvey Drive. The hose was connected to a portion of the pipeline that crosses the Shoemaker Gully.

Selling stolen fuel

Several illegal 'gas stations' are believed to be in operation in and around the area where the theft of the fuel was discovered. For many years now, these illegal gas stations have been selling what is believed to be stolen fuel to motorists trying to minimise the impact of rising fuel prices.

Meanwhile, as the investigations continue, the tanker that was being filled has been seized by the security forces. Police are unable to say what the fuel was going to be used for or where it was being trucked to, citing that the investigations are still in their preliminary stage.

According to sources, Petrojam is also currently trying to determine how much fuel has been stolen over time. According to Gleaner sources, the discovery and detention marked the culmination of an ongoing investigation by the refinery, the security forces, and Allied Security Guard Limited.

Sources say three men believed to be involved in the fuel theft managed to escape on foot.