Adulteration of lubricants in Salto: criminal complaint, expert reports, and measures taken by the City Council
Lubricant tampering detected at municipal depot: The Salto Departmental Government will file a criminal complaint after verifying the presence of water in a tank used for the fleet. The discovery renders the depot unusable and requires the activation of emergency protocols to preserve the operation of municipal vehicles.
The Gramon Warehouse Department identified the contamination during routine inspections and proceeded to isolate the compromised stock. The Municipality forwarded the documentation to the Prosecutor's Office and filed a formal complaint so the criminal investigation can move forward while technical expertise and laboratory analysis are collected.
Lubricant tampering not only jeopardizes mechanical performance but also the job security of those who handle and operate the equipment. Therefore, the Municipality has implemented provisional measures: pre-checking the oil in each unit, using secure reserves, and prioritizing critical routes to avoid impacting collection and other essential services.
Lubricant adulteration: chronology of detection in the depot
The administration has launched an urgent administrative investigation that will run parallel to the judicial proceedings. The initial measures include a complete inventory of the warehouse, a review of entry records, and verification of the seals and stamps on the affected containers.
Adulteration of lubricants and responsibilities: traceability and suppliers
Specialized technicians will conduct physical and chemical tests to determine the proportion of water and the presence of other contaminants . Documentary traceability of the purchase and supply routes will be key to establishing liability. If the reports confirm irregularities, the Municipality will consider administrative sanctions and provide evidence for the criminal case involving lubricant adulteration.
Adulteration of lubricants: impact on the operation of the municipal fleet
The use of contaminated lubricant can cause loss of lubricity, corrosion, and premature failure in engines and hydraulic systems. Therefore, the affected batch was discarded, and quality controls were strengthened on the remaining stock. Management coordinated support across departments so that reserve units could cover priority routes while the investigations were ongoing.
Adulteration of lubricants: technical reports and preliminary results
A protocol was established: oil levels and quality were checked before each shipment, suspicious inputs were immediately replaced, and evidence was strictly stored for investigation. Suppliers were also notified of the situation, and supporting documentation was required for each shipment.
Adulteration of lubricants: provisional measures for collection
In parallel with the lubricant tampering, the Municipality expanded a complaint related to incidents that occurred during a union demonstration, when a worker attempting to board a garbage truck was assaulted. His testimony was incorporated into the case being processed by the Prosecutor's Office. The municipality emphasized that protecting municipal employees is a priority and offered institutional support.
Adulteration of lubricants: administrative actions and judicial follow-up
The investigation seeks to determine whether the lubricant adulteration was due to an error in the logistics chain, negligence in storage, or intentional action. Invoices, quality certificates, and transportation records will be compared with laboratory results to determine responsibility and determine charges.
Adulteration of lubricants: urgent steps
The Municipality announced that it will periodically report on the progress of the investigation and the measures taken. The community expects swift and clear responses; authorities announced that if irregularities are confirmed, they will apply sanctions and legal action against those responsible and suppliers involved.
Adulteration of lubricants: keys
The experts consulted recommended reviewing receiving protocols, improving controls throughout the preservation chain, and establishing random sampling of incoming batches. The incorporation of digital records and mandatory certificates of analysis could prevent further instances of lubricant adulteration in the future.
The detection of water in a lubricant tank opened a front combining operational risk, judicial investigation, administrative inquiry, and concerns for workplace safety. The Salto Departmental Government will concentrate technical and administrative resources to clarify the causes, repair damage, and strengthen controls to prevent a similar situation from happening again.
