Mbanza Kongo - The acting presiding judge of the Mbanza Kongo District Court, Felisberto Laurindo Capunge, stated on Tuesday that the fight against fuel smuggling also involves educating and raising awareness among the population about the risks and losses that this practice entails for the national economy.
According to the judge, fuel smuggling into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become a common practice and a means of survival for a considerable number of national citizens and beyond.
In an interview with ANGOP, the judge said that the Mbanza Kongo District Court has recorded and judged a high number of cases related to this phenomenon, but without revealing statistical data.
He added that cases of this nature, which go through the court, represent just a “drop of water in the ocean”, given the daily reports that have been reported by many local residents.
“An alarm must be raised to prevent fuel smuggling from evolving into a type of organized crime or criminal association”, said the magistrate.
During the interview, the source also highlighted the crimes of theft, homicide and sexual abuse of minors registered in that judicial instance based in the municipality of Zaire province.
The District Court of Mbanza Kongo operates with four magistrates, two of whom are guarantees, and also serves the municipalities of Cuimba and Nóqui.
The province of Zaire has two District Courts, distributed by the municipalities of Mbanza Kongo and Soyo, the latter also serving the districts of Tomboco and Nzeto. PMV/JL/DOJ
