Police recover 4 500 litres fuel, arrest 3

Police have bust an illegal fuel trading ring in Mangochi District and arrested three people suspected of running it after they were found with 4 500 litres of fuel without permit.

Mangochi Police Station spokesperson Amina Tepani Daudi confirmed the arrests, saying the operation, jointly conducted by Mangochi Police Station and officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at National Police Headquarters in Lilongwe, was carried out on the night of April 25 2026 within Mangochi Municipality.

Some of the confiscated jerry cans. | Malawi Police Service

She said the operation followed intelligence reports and a tip-off from members of the public about illegal fuel dealings in the area.

Daudi identified the suspects as Daudi Chinayi, 26, Lapukeni Lamioni, 24 and Sharif Iwen, 19, all from Mtalimanja Village in Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi.

“The suspects were found with 33 jerry cans, each with a capacity of 20 litres, containing petroleum products totalling 660 litres,” she said.

Daudi also said officers discovered 19 drums, each holding 200 litres and two 20-litre jerry cans of fuel abandoned in an unfinished building.

“The total quantity of fuel recovered is 4 500 litres. The owner of the abandoned fuel is currently at large. All seized fuel has been taken to Mangochi Police Station for safekeeping and further investigations,” she said.

Police have since launched a manhunt to identify and arrest the suspect linked to the abandoned fuel.

The three suspects are expected to appear in court soon to answer charges related to illegal possession of petroleum products.

Meanwhile, police in the district have warned the public against the illegal transportation and storage of fuel, citing serious safety risks and legal consequences.

The police have also commended community members for providing information that helps curb illegal activities.

Last week, four people, a mother and her three children, died after their house caught fire at Monkey Bay in Mangochi.

According to Monkey Bay Police spokesperson Kondwani James, the accident happened after fuel stored in jerry cans spilled on a charcoal burner.

In another incident, two people also died from an explosion induced by petrol in Mchinji.