JEDDAH: Jeddah Police Tuesday arrested a group of six Asian and Arab nationals involved in stealing and smuggling petroleum to a neighboring Gulf country in illegal shipments through the city seaport. The police raided a large walled site south of the city where stolen fuel was found in a large container. Those arrested included fuel tanker drivers of different nationalities, who transported the fuel from Rabigh and unloaded their tankers at the site instead of gas stations. The 5,000-sq. meter site was under surveillance for several days. Inside the area the police found vehicles and tankers used to transport barrels of fuel to the seaport. “Fuel tankers would go inside and unload the fuel in a large container from which tens of barrels are filled before they are carried to the seaport from where they are illegally exported,” said the police. Most of the suspects confessed to the crime and said they chose Al-Khumra District because “it is quiet and has a small population”. Brig. Misfer Al-Juaid, police spokesman, said investigations are underway to find other parties involved in the crime. He said real estate owners must monitor their properties. “We will arrest anyone involved in or related to the walled site. Large quantities of petroleum materials were found placed randomly in a place where there are no safety standards or fire extinguishing equipment,” he said.
