POLICE have intensified patrols along the Plumtree Border Post as most of the fuel that is being sold on the black market is being smuggled into the country through undesignated entry points along that border.
Speaking during a clean-up campaign in Plumtree on Thursday, Assistant Commissioner Bazibi Dube who is responsible for operations within the ZRP Southern Region Support Unit, said illegal fuel dealers were taking advantage of lower prices of fuel in Botswana.
“Most of the fuel that is being sold illegally in Bulawayo and other towns is being smuggled through the Plumtree Border Post. Illegal fuel dealers get their supplies from Botswana as prices of fuel there are cheaper and they bring it into the country through illegal entry points.
“As police we are not going to just sit and watch but we have intensified our patrols along the border line in order to bring these culprits to book. These illegal fuel dealers don’t work alone as at times they are assisted by community members as carriers of their fuel containers and for storage purposes,” he said.
Asst Comm Dube said their clean-up campaign was a way for the police to give back to the community.
“As the ZRP support unit we are responsible for the security of the country’s minerals, manning borders, dealing with fire arms, stock theft and public management among other duties. At the same time we also give back to the community,” he said.
