• Nine petrol delivery drivers have been fired after Conoco
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discovered that leaded petrol was being mixed with cheaper unleaded petrol at two of its Jet garages in southwest London.
The Z22,000-a-year dri vers were sacked last week from the Langley depot near Slough after an internal audit uncovered a discrepancy in the amount of fuel duty paid to Customs & Excise at the two garages. The retailers, who have also had their contracts terminated by Conoco, were allegedly pocketing the difference in tax paid on the fuel Conoco says: "Obviously the retailers came to some arrangement with the drivers," but it stresses that appeals by the drivers against dismissal will be heard this week.
The alleged fraud has serious implications for anyone using the fuel: the AA warns that anyone doing a lot of mileage on the mixed petrol could have damaged their engine.
Conoco says the profits were made at the expense of Customs & Excise and it has passed on the details of the case to Customs, which is considering what action to take.
Conoco discovered leaded and unleaded fuel mixes.