Police arrest 4 over illegal possession of petroleum products in Nkhata Bay

Police in Nkhata Bay have arrested four men for allegedly being found in possession of 2,400 litres of petroleum products without a valid license.

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In an interview on Wednesday, Nkhata Bay Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Devoter Mithi, said the suspects were arrested on August 20, 2025, while detectives were conducting routine patrols around the Jetty.

According to Mithi, the suspects have been identified as Edson Jungu, 48, of Chijere Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Timbiri, Samu Gavana, 32, of Kamoza Village, TA Mankhambira, both from Nkhata Bay, Geoffrey Banda, 26, of Kambiri Village, TA Chiwalo in Machinga and Blessings Nyirongo, 33, of Kafukule Village, TA Chindi in Mzimba.

“During the operation, officers came across the suspects who were believed to be attempting to export the fuel to neighbouring Mozambique and Tanzania using water transport. When asked to produce documents authorising possession and externalisation of the petroleum products, they failed,” Mithi said.

She added that the four were immediately taken into custody and will soon appear before court to answer charges of being found in possession of petroleum products without license.

Police have since warned members of the public against engaging in illegal fuel trade, stressing that the malpractice threatens national security and economic stability.