Hot: Caught red-handed filling up 'dirty' gasoline at a station to sell to customers

(Baonghean.vn) - The business owner admitted to selling millions of liters of 'dirty' gasoline throughout the province with a formula of 50% gasoline, 50% solvent and colorant.

At 11:00 a.m. on October 10, 2017, PC46 Department of the Provincial Police, Department of Science and Technology and Department A71 of the Ministry of Public Security caught Thanh Ngu Company Limited (Ngoc Tan hamlet, Dien Ngoc commune, Dien Chau district) red-handed pouring solvents in the tank of a tanker truck with license plate 37C - 7512 into a gas tank at a gas station for customers.

The amount of solvent transported on a 40,000-liter tanker truck driven by Mr. Ngo Quang Thuc for Quang Luc private enterprise (address: Hamlet 8, Quynh My, Quynh Luu) was transported from Can Tho City.

Tanker truck 37C 11147 was used by the subject to transport poor quality gasoline for consumption. Photo: PV

During an inspection at Thanh Ngu Company, the authorities discovered 2 bottles of colorant powder and 2 gasoline tanks (one containing 3,000 liters of A92 gasoline; the other containing 7,000 liters of A92 gasoline). Through the investigation, the business owner, Ms. Vu Thi Thanh, had to admit that the 7,000-liter tank contained gasoline mixed in the following ratio: 50% A92 gasoline + 50% solvent + colorant = poor quality gasoline.

Powders used to create fake gasoline colors. Photo: PV

The authorities continued to inspect Kien Luc Private Enterprise (Hamlet 8, Quynh My, Quynh Luu), discovering 2 tanks containing over 10,000 liters of poor quality gasoline; 1 bottle containing colorant powder. The son of the owner of this enterprise, Tran Van Tuan, admitted that from August 2017 to now, he has purchased 320,000 liters of solvent at a price of 10,600 VND/liter. Of which, 160,000 liters were sold to Thanh Ngu Company Limited; the remaining 160,000 liters, Tuan directed to mix with A92 gasoline at the ratio: 80% A92 gasoline + 20% solvent + colorant powder.

Tran Van Tuan also confessed that in previous solvent trucks, Kien Luc Private Enterprise sold 40,000 liters to Ky Phuong gas station; and 5 trucks to Sau Hang gas station, equivalent to about 200,000 liters.

Chemicals and solvents used by the subjects to mix 'dirty' gasoline. Photo: PV

From the amount of solvent that Kien Luc private enterprise purchased from Can Tho city and transported to Nghe An, and the solvent mixing ratio as the enterprise owner declared, the authorities determined that the amount of "dirty" gasoline sold by this enterprise in the province was up to 2 million liters in the period from August 2017 to present.

According to the VAT invoice for selling solvents of Mekong Petroleum Company under Can Tho Petroleum Corporation, the price of solvents is 10,600 VND/liter; meanwhile, the price of A92 gasoline sold on the market is 18,000 VND/liter; the difference between the two businesses trading in "dirty" gasoline is very large.

Authorities take samples to test the quality of gasoline at the violating facility. Photo: PV

After investigating and clarifying the violations, the authorities decided to temporarily detain the trailer with license plate 37C-7512 containing 40,000 liters of solvent; about 20,000 liters of "dirty" gasoline of two businesses; 3 bottles containing colorant powder; related documents, invoices, and books... At the same time, they determined to continue to expand the fight against the "dirty" gasoline business tricks.

Nhat Lan - Dao Tuan