Daijiworld Media Network- Ponda

Ponda, Aug 20: In a major crackdown on illegal LPG trade, officials from the civil supplies and legal metrology departments seized 164 LPG cylinders during a raid at Britto Vaddo, Parra, on Monday.

Civil Supplies Minister Ravi Naik told reporters on Tuesday that five Rajasthan natives – Radhesham, Vikas Swarupanam, Rameshkumar, Pradeep Kumar and Ram Swaroop – were detained for alleged involvement in the black marketing racket.

According to officials, the accused procured LPG cylinders from a refilling unit, siphoned off nearly 30 percent gas from each cylinder, and transferred it into empty ones before resealing and selling them. By this method, they managed to prepare one full cylinder by partially draining several others.

Of the 164 cylinders confiscated, 76 were sealed and 88 were empty. The haul included 18 sealed domestic cylinders, two unsealed domestic ones, 12 empty domestic, 24 sealed commercial, 32 unsealed commercial, 10 empty commercial, and 66 small 5-kg cylinders. In addition, 32 counterfeit commercial and two counterfeit domestic cylinders were also seized.

Officials confirmed that further investigation is underway.