Nineteen Malawians have paid the price for Malawi’s crippling fuel crisis after Zambian police arrested them over allegations of smuggling more than 5,000 litres of petrol across the border.
The suspects were arrested in two separate incidents, according to Zambian police.
The arrests come as Malawi continues to experience fuel shortages, with the scarcity also contributing to a growing black market where petrol is reportedly fetching more than K20,000 per litre.
Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba confirmed the arrests, according to Zambian media reports.
Mweemba said police in Lundazi apprehended local councillor Clint Mwale and 13 Malawians after intercepting a consignment of about 4,500 litres of petrol stored in plastic containers.
In a separate incident in Chipata, police arrested six Malawians and four Zambian nationals after stopping a vehicle carrying another 905 litres of petrol.
The fuel was allegedly being transported to Malawi, with Lilongwe identified as its intended destination.
The suspects were arrested in two separate incidents, according to Zambian police.
The arrests come as Malawi continues to experience fuel shortages, with the scarcity also contributing to a growing black market where petrol is reportedly fetching more than K20,000 per litre.
Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba confirmed the arrests, according to Zambian media reports.
Mweemba said police in Lundazi apprehended local councillor Clint Mwale and 13 Malawians after intercepting a consignment of about 4,500 litres of petrol stored in plastic containers.
In a separate incident in Chipata, police arrested six Malawians and four Zambian nationals after stopping a vehicle carrying another 905 litres of petrol.
The fuel was allegedly being transported to Malawi, with Lilongwe identified as its intended destination.
