Yahoo News 
Warning issued to motorists after fuel smugglers burn to death
Fuel bandits burned to death in at least three accidents in the past year, the UAE’s Interior Ministry has revealed.
The accident stats were released as officials launched a campaign to crack down on the illegal sale of cheap diesel. General Mohammad Saif Al Zafeen, head of the UAE Traffic Council, said the clampdown was launched after cops noticed many smugglers using modified vehicles with larger fuel tanks to smuggle fuel from petrol stations to other provinces or even outside the country.
“Our concern is that the vehicle used for transferring fuel is not proper for this job. Any accident can happen to the vehicle and can cause fire and lethal casualties,” Al Zafeen said.
According to official stats, 85 vehicles were caught smuggling fuel in the UAE in 2013. Most were in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain cities, where 48 vehicles were caught.
“Last year three vehicles had accidents and exploded due to the fuel, and some smugglers burned to death,” said Brigadier Hamad Nasir, deputy director of Abu Dhabi traffic and patrols police.
He claimed some garages were raided by police as they were believed to be illegally modifying the fuel tanks of normal cars, placing larger, hidden tanks in the vehicle to be used for smuggling.
Brigadier Mohammad Nasir Al Razouqi, deputy director of Dubai Police CID, said police patrols had tracked the smugglers before arresting them and sending them to public prosecution.
“Smugglers can be jailed or fined up to Dhs30,000. There is also a Dhs50,000 penalty from civil defence for using an improper vehicle to transport fuel and flammable materials,” Al Razouqi said. Police said petrol companies in the UAE have been cooperating with them to provide details of suspicious vehicles.
“We had a saloon vehicle coming to a petrol station every Friday, and the driver filled his tank with Dhs1,000 of fuel. It is not reasonable for a saloon car to use such a large amount, and we discovered he had a hidden tank,” Al Zafeen added.
ali.shouk@7days.ae
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