Tampa, FL – A multi-county investigation has led to the dismantling of a large-scale diesel fuel theft ring that allegedly targeted more than a dozen Florida counties, authorities said Thursday.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, “Operation Van Diesel” uncovered more than 350 thefts at 70 different locations, resulting in an estimated $65,000 loss. Investigators said the scheme spanned Hillsborough, Clay, Orange, Osceola and other counties over a six-month period.
Deputies reported that suspects allegedly used vans with trailers to park over underground fuel tanks at gas stations late at night. They allegedly removed metal covers, inserted pumps, and siphoned hundreds of pounds of diesel fuel within minutes. The stolen fuel was then taken to off-site locations and resold for about $2 per gallon.
Sheriff Chad Chronister said the operation posed severe dangers to the community. “A simple traffic crash could’ve been catastrophic,” Chronister said during a Thursday morning press briefing.
Authorities said the investigation resulted in 103 search warrants, leading to 10 arrests. Eight of the suspects were extradited back into Hillsborough County, and seven of those arrested were identified as undocumented immigrants, according to the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office emphasized the scale of the operation, calling it one of the largest fuel theft cases in the state. Officials said the arrests are part of an ongoing crackdown on organized theft groups operating across Florida.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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