The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Islamabad Zone, in a joint operation with Pakistan State Oil (PSO), has busted a major diesel theft network operating through the main pipeline at the Sihala Depot and arrested two suspects red-handed.
FIA Busts major diesel theft network, arrests two in PSO pipeline tampering case
ISLAMABAD, Jul 19 (APP): The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Islamabad Zone, in a joint operation with Pakistan State Oil (PSO), has busted a major diesel theft network operating through the main pipeline at the Sihala Depot and arrested two suspects red-handed.
An FIA official told APP on Sunday that the raid was carried out near Jump Stop, Bhaga, Sihala, on the basis of credible intelligence, where the suspects had established an organized fuel theft network by installing an illegal underground secondary pipeline connected to the PSO-ARL Sihala main pipeline.
The official said the accused were illegally extracting diesel from the main pipeline, transferring the stolen fuel into drums and selling it in the black market.
Initial investigation revealed that the illegal network had remained operational for the past five to six months, siphoning off nearly 20,000 litres of diesel daily from the main pipeline.
According to preliminary estimates by PSO, the theft has caused a financial loss of more than Rs100 million to the national exchequer.
During the operation, the FIA recovered the illegal underground pipeline along with two Hyundai Shehzore pickup vehicles loaded with multiple drums and storage tanks filled with stolen diesel, all of which were taken into custody as evidence.
The official said a case had been registered against the arrested suspects under the relevant laws, adding that the investigation would also determine the involvement of other members of the network as well as any public officials who may have facilitated the illegal operation.
Further investigation is underway.
