Authorities have exposed a major Rs 250 million crude oil theft in Dhamial, Rawalpindi, involving large-scale tampering of a Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL) supply pipeline. Police have registered a case and initiated operations to track down the suspects behind the scheme.
According to reports, the accused constructed a tunnel from a house in Ranial to illegally access the underground POL pipeline. Inside the residence, two massive storage tanks had been installed to stockpile stolen crude oil, which was later shifted to tankers for onward sale.
The theft operation came to light after a dumper truck and motorcycle caught fire on the premises. During the investigation, police recovered crude oil, a high-pressure pipeline, storage equipment, two national identity cards, a pistol, and other incriminating evidence.
The case was registered on the complaint of POL Senior Executive Admin Shahid Ahmed, who said the company transports crude from Pind Fateh to Morgah for onward delivery to Attock Refinery. Authorities had already been probing pipeline tampering incidents when the fire incident exposed the large-scale theft.
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Named suspects include house owner Sher Khan, his son Fazal Sher, Shrafat Ali, Muhammad Bilal, Muhammad Wajid, and several unidentified accomplices. Initial investigations reveal that around 12,821 barrels of crude oil had been stolen through the scheme. Police have launched raids and expressed confidence in apprehending the culprits soon.
