The total US losses from theft of fuel in Afghanistan is likely higher than 154,4 million. according to the special U.S. inspector General for Afghanistan reconstruction report (cigars), published on Friday. Authorities are not quite sure where all the fuel is gone.
At least $154,4 million in fuel intended for American soldiers and soldiers of the coalition led by the United States, was stolen, and poor record keeping, corruption and large amounts of fuel transported is difficult to determine the exact total, according to the report of cigars.
Fuel theft is a lucrative business in Afghanistan. The fuel is easy to steal and in a backward country, it can be moved to remote areas to avoid scrutiny.
U.S. allocates a certain number of fuel for the Afghan government. The Pentagon has supplied more than 2.8 billion gallons of fuel in support of U.S. operations in the country worth more than $ 13 billion in the period from 2008 to 2016. Between 2010 and 2018, the Ministry of defence plans to spend $ 3.2 billion for the supply of fuel for the Afghan security forces.
Now, the U.S. defense Department is preparing a five-year contract with the Afghan forces that the US would continue to supply them fuel at 2 billion dollars.
U.S. Federal auditors fear that the fuel can be sold on the Taliban and other anti-government groups, or sold to Fund them. Pentagon officials told the auditors that they avoid to give money directly to the Afghan government for fuel contracts, according Military.com.
Afghanistan was listed as the fourth most corrupt country by the organization “Transparency international” in 2017, but the Afghan officials are not alone in corruption: the cigar report provides examples of the American military personnel involved in plums, for example, three soldiers in collusion with transportation companies, to steal $765,000 cost of jet fuel in 2012, four troops who took bribes to let thieves take $1.5 million for gas in 2010, and army Sergeant who falsified documents for $10 million in fuel tank scheme in 2013.
The report noted that the sensors and the established accounting system has reduced the fuel consumption and in other places, and called for better control of fuel delivery and transfer to Afghanistan.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
