The police force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has launched an investigation into allegations that policemen attached to the Marine Section have been illegally selling fuel to fishermen, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed.
His comment came following the publication of an article and photograph in this newspaper yesterday showing the illegal transaction, which occurred on Wednesday.
Blanhum was unable to say whether the ranks have been identified and placed under close arrest.
A senior police source told Stabroek News that based on how the ranks operated, they seem to have been engaged in this practice for a while. He said they were so brazen and confident that not only did they commit the offence in daylight but they used the police boat and were dressed in their police uniforms.
Stabroek News was at the koker around 3 pm speaking to fishermen when a blue and white boat, with ‘Police 1’marked at the side, pulled up. Although it turned back quickly, it was later spotted and one of the policemen was observed removing a six-gallon jar of gasoline from the boat and handing it to a fisherman.
This newspaper was told that the police would sell the gasoline for $5,000, which is $1,000 cheaper than the price at the gas stations.
It is believed that the fuel sold was given to the ranks to fuel their vessel to patrol the river.
