Angolan authorities arrested 34 individuals and seized nearly 443,000 liters of fuel in an intensive 20-day crackdown on smuggling, resulting in an estimated loss of 111 million kwanzas for the State.
Deputy Commissioner Mateus Rodrigues, spokesperson for the Angolan National Police, disclosed these details at a press conference in Zaire on Friday.
The operations, conducted between October 8 and 28, involved the Border Guard Police and Customs Police.
Officials reported intercepting 462,449 liters of fuel, comprising 185,300 liters of petrol and 277,149 liters of diesel, from various smuggling operations.
The arrests included both Angolan and foreign nationals suspected of involvement in the smuggling activities.
Deputy Commissioner Rodrigues noted that the largest volume of seizures occurred in the northern Zaire province, bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo, where 41,130 liters of fuel were confiscated.
Other affected provinces included Moxico, Lunda Norte, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cunene, Cuanza Norte, Uige, and Lunda Sul.
According to authorities, smugglers used covert foot routes and concealed fuel in disguised shipments of various products.
These operations inflicted significant financial losses on the State, amounting to approximately 110.9 million kwanzas.
