Monday, Aug 04, 2008
Dubai: Business is booming for the illegal diesel trade at a deserted open area commonly called the "taxi stand", located in Dubai Investment Park (DIP).
A gallon of diesel is sold here for Dh5 to Dh6 by truckers to agents who park their pick-up vans, on which are mounted empty diesel containers waiting to be filled. These trucks belong to various transport companies in the UAE, who are unaware of this black market sale by the drivers. As soon as a truck enters the area the agents quickly connect the pump from the diesel tanker to the container. The number of gallons to be sold has already been decided between the trucker and the agent via a mobile telephone conversation a night or an hour before the trucks are brought to the area. This is done to avoid any suspicion, argument or delay while the diesel is being pumped out from the vehicle.
When I, along with a Gulf News photographer, arrive at the area the time is 5.30pm and there are about three pick-up vans, one pick-up is on its way out with four diesel-filled containers, while three agents are busy pumping out diesel from a trailer tanker to their containers. Spotting us, the agents become cautious. One of them talks on his mobile phone and says in Hindi "Abhi Nahi," (not now). The diesel pumping operations come to a halt.
In the next 20 minutes there is no sight of any trucks. Probably they have all been tipped off by the agents. We drive out of the place only to park our vehicle at a distance but close enough to monitor if any trucks head towards the taxi stand.
The time shows 7.15pm. The wait finally pays off and we come across two trucks heading towards the taxi stand only to drive out of the place in 10 to 12 minutes. In another half an hour about five more truckers make their way with their vehicles to trade diesel illegally.
We are lucky when a trucker who has just made a diesel sale stops his vehicle. Also parked in that particular place are several sewage tankers. We drive to the place and catch up with the trucker. At first he does not want anything to do with us but when we tell him we are just looking for information on the diesel trade he asks in Urdu: "Aapko diesel kharidna hai, kay bechna hai," (Do you want to buy diesel or are you looking for clients). When we inform him that we are buyers and need direction, he agrees to talk but only if we switch off our mobiles.
Giving his name as Gurupreet, the trucker says the illegal sale of diesel is in full swing in three areas located in Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah and DIP.
"Many truckers are involved in this illegal business," he reveals.
In reply to a query on whether his company keeps track of the ratio of the number of trips to the gallons of diesel consumed by the vehicle, he said: "There are dangers in this work but my company has 300 trucks and it's difficult to monitor all of them. If the agents find any suspicious four-wheel drives or cars roaming around the area, they warn us to stay back on our mobile."
Gurupreet abruptly closes the conversation, gets into his truck and drives off leaving us with the task of getting hold of an agent who pumps out diesel in containers.
Pitch darkness
The time is 8.10pm. We slowly make our way back to the taxi stand. The business is being carried out in pitch darkness. We approach an agent who refuses to divulge any information. We refuse to leave and stand next to the truck from which diesel is being pumped out. A couple of minutes later we are joined by another agent who starts to make inquiries on the reason behind us being here. When we tell him we are looking for a source to buy diesel illegally, the first question he asks us is the number of gallons we are looking to buy.
When we tell him that we are looking for around 100 gallons of diesel to buy on the black market he said: "We sell it at Dh15 per gallon to transport companies. We deliver the cans to their companies. What is the name of your company and do you have a telephone number?"
When we ask him to provide his contact details he refuses and busies himself in dealing with another truck driver who has just arrived.
Smuggling gang arrested
Dubai Police have set up teams to arrest those involved in the business of the black market trade of diesel within the country.
Recently Dubai Police arrested a cross-border diesel smuggling gang.
The gang, comprising pick-up drivers, used to bring diesel illegal into the country and sell it on the black market, said police.
Police received a tip-off and traced the calls of the illegal operators and arrested the gang in the act.
An investigation is ongoing and the police have not divulged any more details of the illegal operation.
Market fluctuations to blame
A Sharjah-based transport company owner who had two of his truckers arrested for being involved in this illegal trade said fluctuations in the market was one of the reasons for the practice.
"Eppco, Emarat and Enoc sell a gallon of diesel for Dh18.75 in Dubai while in Abu Dhabi Adnoc sells it for Dh8.60. It is this disparity in prices that is responsible for the illegal trade. The market is not balanced.
We have learnt there are quite a lot of truckers from various companies involved. When I caught two of my drivers I had them arrested. But as a businessman I would like this trade to be stopped by the authorities. The agents might be selling the same diesel they have taken from my vehicles back to me. It is a vicious cycle."
By Sunita Menon
Gulf News 2008. All rights reserved.
