Massive stash of suspect fuel seized

THE BIGGEST ever haul of suspected stolen petrol in Greater Manchester was seized by police in Oldham yesterday.

The Oldham Divisional Organised Crime Unit seized 1,600 litres of fuel and £30,000 cash in Mark Lane, Shaw. The fuel was stored in 25 litre chemical containers in the garage and garden shed. They also found £30,000 hidden around the house.

A 51-year-old man is in custody on suspicion of theft and money laundering.

Both Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue and Chief Supt Catherine Hankinson, divisional commander for Oldham, said the haul is the largest amount of suspected stolen fuel ever recovered in the area.

Chief Supt Hankinson said: “We believe this fuel was stolen and was being illegally stored at and sold from the address. The amount of fuel we recovered posed a huge risk to residents in this area.

“Given the location and the way it was being recklessly stored in a garden shed and garage, if there had been a fire then it is no exaggeration to say the entire area could have exploded and put people’s lives in jeopardy.”