Agents said they seized the equipment that was used for the extraction of fuel, and 28 large containers that were filled with 28,000 litters of aviation gasoline. / Judicial Investigation Organization courtesy photo.
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Judicial agents detain five
suspected of fuel robbery
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Agents of the Judicial Investigation Organization in the province of Alajuela delegation arrested on Thursday five men as suspects of fuel theft from a pipeline of the Costa Rican Petroleum Refinery, known as Recope.
The men are surnamed Aguilar-Rodríguez, 34, Céspedes-Madrigal, 24, Lauson-Salazar, 23, Calderón-Mayorga, 20, and Gutiérrez-Jirón, 33.
According to the agents, Recope reported a pipeline that lost pressure in the area of La Garita* in the Province of Alajuela.
"An agent went to the site and saw four cars parked at the road, and he detected a strong smell of fuel," said the agents in a report.
In teamwork with police officers, the five suspects who were working to extract the fuel were detained, agents said.
Agents said they seized the equipment that was used for the extraction of fuel, and 28 large containers that were filled with 28,000 litters of aviation gasoline. There were four more extra large empty containers.
The five suspects were taken to the cells of the Public Ministry where they were interviewed by the authorities. And they must remain in custody until a judge determines any pre-trial measures.
On Sep. 2018, as A.M. Costa Rica reported, the fire department and the police responded to a fuel spill on a property located near the town of Coyol* in the province of Alajuela.
The police reported that they found an illegal removal of fuel at the location where a hose was connected to a 12-inch pipeline.
This is characteristic of the maneuvers used to steal fuel.
According to the police report, the spilled product was super gasoline that was passed through the 12-inch pipe to the La Garita facility in Alajuela. Apparently because of the hole that the thieves made, a leak was caused in the pipeline.
Firemen reported that a valve block was applied to reduce the pressure in the pipeline with the collaboration of refinery technicians.
"The area was covered with a layer of insulating foam to avoid the generation of fuel vapors and in this way minimize the risk of inflammation of the product that could cause any source of ignition close to the scene," the statement said.
According to the report, there were no signs of truck movements at the property where the illegal intake was found, even though authorities made a thorough search of the area.
The refinery also reported that " the product was quickly contained, while a special truck was moved to the site to collect the fuel spilled and contained inside the pit, as well as the equipment and absorbent material."
According to the refinery, these actions of vandalism to steal fuel can put people and the environment at risk of contamination.
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What are the security measures that fuel companies do in your country to prevent fuel robbery? We would like to know your
thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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