By Buddhika Kumarasiri   

The driver of a fuel bowser and a helper who attempted to sell 6600ltrs of diesel at the black market price of Rs. 900.00 per litre, and two spies deployed by the kingpin behind the racket to ensure the deal would be executed precisely as arranged were arrested and the bowser load of diesel seized on Tuesday night (02) by the Meegoda police.   

Police on intelligence received by OIC Meegoda police Neville Priyantha from an informant regarding a large scale racket supplying fuel at black-market prices, had organized the raid with the help of a private sector company in Watareka and placed an order through a decoy to purchase a stock of diesel and carried out the raid when the racketeers arrived at the company premises with the bowser load of diesel.   

Investigations revealed that the king pin behind the racket was a senior official from the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and that the stock of diesel involved had been issued in the name of a private institution in Katunayake.    Police said the king pin had planned to sell the load of diesel at Rs.6 million whereas the market value was Rs. 2.8 million. He had arranged to pay a substantial commision to the driver and helper of the bowser and the two spies on completion of the transaction.    The two suspects and the bowzer load of diesel were to be produced before Homagama magistrate last morning.   

Meegoda police and the CPC Investigation Unit are conducting further investigations.