Puma denies oil smuggling scam

By BENNIE MUNDANDO PUMA Energy Zambia says assertions by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) that it was behind the smuggling of diesel and petrol into the country under the pretext that it was Jet A1 which was duty free was incorrect as it had never done so.

Puma Energy managing director Yahaya Yunisa said the alleged smuggling of fuel first came to the attention of Puma Energy in September this year and that while the company cooperated with ZRA over its investigations, it also took its own independent investigations which unearthed the culprit which the company did not name.

Mr. Yunisa said the statement from ZRA which was issued on December 1, 2017, was therefore not true.

“Puma Energy Zambia is aware of the media articles about fuel smuggling activities in Zambia following the publication of a press release by the ZRA on Friday, December 1, 2017. Any suggestion that Puma Energy is involved in fuel smuggling is simply incorrect.

“Since this issue first came to our attention in September this year, we have worked with and fully cooperated with the ZRA’s investigation, and undertook our own investigations, which revealed the fraudulent use of Puma Energy’s identity in fuel smuggling activities,” Mr. Yunisa said.

He said as the market’s leading giant in Zambia, Puma energy will always endeavour to stick to best practices in the sector.

“Puma Energy, the market leader in the retail business in Zambia, remains steadfast and committed to the best practice locally and internationally in all its business transactions, and to give the best service possible to its esteemed customers,” he said.