True

Security

It is true that police in Nkhotakota confiscated 19700 litres of fuel from smugglers

FACT-CHECKED by iVerify

March 19, 2025

A screenshot of information on Facebook indicated that police in Nkhotakota seized 19,700 litres of fuel. In the circulating screenshot, Nkhotakota Police Officer-in-Charge, Wackison Kandiyero was quoted as saying the fuel comprises 89 drums of petrol and 10 drums of diesel and the fuel was being smuggled to Mozambique through Lake Malawi. The police acted on a tip-off from the public, intercepted the fuel at Kanyangale Port, and arrested two suspects, whose names were not disclosed.

Claim

Police in Nkhotakota confiscated 19700 liters of fuel that some individuals where trying to smuggle to Mozambique through Kanyangale Fishing Dock

Rating Justification

iVerify Malawi verified this content and determined that the story about the seizure of 19,700 litres of fuel in Nkhotakota is true. To arrive at this verdict, iVerify Malawi gathered information from Nkhotakota Police Station and the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA). Nkhotakota Police Deputy Publicist Chisomo Chuma confirmed that law enforcement officers seized 89 drums of petrol and 10 drums of diesel at Kanyangale Port, following a tip-off from the public. Two individuals, Jawawo Mdala (a Mozambican vessel captain) and Emmanuel Matumba (a Malawian citizen) were arrested in connection with the attempted smuggling.

iVerify Malawi also cross-checked with MERA spokesperson Fitina Khonje, who also confirmed the seizure. However, there is no evidence to determine whether the fuel came from any registered Malawian filling station. Despite this, the seizure of the fuel and the arrests of the suspects are verified facts. Therefore, the claim that police in Nkhotakota intercepted an attempt to smuggle fuel to Mozambique is true.

Evidence and References

TWR Malawi Facebook Post: This post reports that police in Nkhotakota seized 19,700 liters of vehicle fuel that individuals were attempting to smuggle to Mozambique through Lake Malawi.

https://www.facebook.com/100067143643927/posts/in-nkhotakota-police-in-the-district-have-seized-19700-liters-of-vehicle-fuel-th/948737390707707/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

The Maravi Post Article: An article detailing the seizure of a large quantity of fuel worth millions of kwacha in Nkhotakota, which was being smuggled to Mozambique.
https://www.maravipost.com/police-seize-fuel-worth-millions-in-nkhotakota/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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