Beira authorities detain three in attempted 800,000-liter fuel theft

Mozambican authorities have detained three individuals in Beira for an attempted theft of 800,000 liters of fuel using falsified documentation at the Beira Port cargo terminal. The suspects include a Mozambican customs technician and two Zimbabwean drivers.

The investigation by the National Service of Criminal Investigation (SERNIC) follows a previous incident in May, where 400,000 liters of diesel were successfully diverted to Manica province using a similar scheme. In the recent attempt, the customs technician was allegedly promised a total of 1.7 million meticais to facilitate the fraudulent loading of two tankers.

Following judicial interrogation, the two Zimbabwean drivers were released on bail of 300,000 meticais each. The customs technician remains in preventive detention after failing to pay a 600,000 metical bail. The technician has denied knowledge of the forged documents, attributing responsibility to his employer.