Gang builds tunnels to steal fuel

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

Istanbul police yesterday arrested 37 members of a network which allegedly stole millions of Turkish Liras worth of jet fuel by building tunnels to drain the fuel from the underground pipes that carry it to airports.

The suspects allegedly dug tunnels at eight points on both the Asian and European sides of Istanbul along the pipeline route that transports jet fuel to the city’s airports. The police had been pursuing the suspects and tracking their activities for six months, and discovered two groups of thieves working in coordination with each other. Most of the suspects have been convicted on similar charges before. The suspects sold the stolen fuel at truck garages. The crime syndicate has sold 3.5 million liras worth of fuel in the past six months, according to Istanbul police.