Two persons are in the grips of the police for their role in the trade of substandard diesel in parts of the Western Region.

Three others are currently on the run following a recent crackdown on vendors of the commodity.

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has confiscated 10,000 litres of diesel in its latest crackdown on vendors of poor quality fuel in the region.

The operation targeted table top sellers of petrol and diesel in Takoradi metropolis, Shama and Ahanta West so in barrels, gallons and jerrycans.

Acting Chief Executive of National Petroleum Authority, Hassan Tampuli says the dealers arrested don’t have the permits from the NPA to retail petroleum products.

He said further checks revealed that they did not have any operating permit from the NPA and did not have any document to prove they were getting their products authorise sources.

“Ignorance of the law is not an excuse so they confiscated all the product” he added.

Mr Tampuli tells Joy News the Authority is on a manhunt for the three others who escaped arrest in the Western Region zonal areas.

He said the retail outlets who engage in such operations are well known to include one Ocran at the Daboase Junction outlet as well as other the Npinsem, Kojokrom, Apimanem and Nkyiaban resellers who will be dealt with.

Mr Tampuli was emphatic those who are on the run will be pursued, arrested and put before the law.  

Meanwhile, the Authority says it will intensify the clampdown across all zonal offices to curb the illegal trade and prosecute those found culpable.