PARAMARIBO, Suriname, Dec 5, CMC -Police say they have seized a several barrels of fuel that had been brought illegally into the country from Guyana earlier this week.
They said that on Wednesday, Regional West police intercepted a suspected fuel smuggling shipment on Karachieweg, on the right bank of the Corantijn Rive after they had received information that a boat from neighboring Guyana had docked with illegal gasoline.
The police said that upon arrival, they found several barrels and jerry cans filled with fuel near a clay dam and shortly afterwards they saw a boat pulling away at full speed.
The police said the despite firing a warning shot, the captain continued his flight, and the vessel disappeared in an unknown direction. The fuel found has been confiscated. The investigation is ongoing.
The operation follows another successful intervention against fuel smuggling in the Nickerie district earlier this week when the same police team, during a targeted surveillance operation, discovered a truck carrying fuel from Guyana, but which was not intended for use in Suriname. They said the vehicle was parked at a gas station and following an exercise was intercepted.
The police said they found four large square barrels on the loading platform, containing approximately 4,000 liters of fuel. They said the owner of the gas station and his employee have been arrested and the fuel seized.
The police said that after consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, the case was settled out of court and the two men were allowed to leave after paying a hefty fine.
CMC/ag/ir/2025