PSO Oil Theft: Authorities Foil Pipeline Fuel Theft, Arrest Suspects Near Sihala

ISLAMABAD, July 17, 2026: PSO Oil Theft operation led to the arrest of suspected members of an organised fuel theft network after Pakistan State Oil (PSO), in coordination with law enforcement agencies, intercepted an alleged illegal pipeline tapping operation on the Sihala–Attock Refinery Limited (ARL) pipeline.

According to PSO, the operation began shortly before midnight on July 15 after its monitoring system detected a sudden pressure drop in the pipeline. The company said it immediately alerted law enforcement agencies based on prior intelligence and ongoing surveillance of a suspected site on Kahuta Road.

PSO said security personnel launched a joint operation and, at around 2:15am on July 16, apprehended suspects who were allegedly extracting petroleum products from the pipeline.

The company said authorities seized two vehicles, including Shahzore and Hyundai trucks, believed to have been used in the operation. Officials also recovered about 800 litres of High-Speed Diesel (HSD) loaded in the vehicles, approximately 1,000 litres of HSD stored in tanks, and nearly 200 litres of diesel kept in drums and 20- and 50-litre containers.

Law enforcement officers also confiscated equipment allegedly used to tap the pipeline illegally.

PSO said authorities handed the suspects, recovered fuel, vehicles, and seized equipment over to Sihala Police for investigation and legal proceedings.

The state-owned oil marketing company said the operation demonstrates its zero-tolerance policy against fuel theft and its commitment to protecting Pakistan’s energy infrastructure. It added that real-time monitoring, intelligence sharing, and coordination with law enforcement agencies played a key role in the operation.

PSO said it will continue working with security agencies to prevent fuel theft and dismantle criminal networks targeting the country’s energy supply chain.