A BP gas station located right next to Detroit Metropolitan Airport is under state investigation for allegedly hitting drivers with massive, unlawful markups at the pump.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that her office secured investigative authority from the Wayne County Circuit Court to probe the station, which sits at 9201 Middlebelt Road in Romulus. Armed with that court order, the state began issuing Civil Investigative Subpoenas last week to determine whether the business has been charging grossly excessive prices.
The state’s crackdown follows a wave of consumer complaints rolled in across 2025 and 2026 from drivers labeling the station’s prices unfair and illegal. To see what was going on, an investigator from the Attorney General’s office personally bought fuel at the station on April 9, 2026, and was charged $5.24 per gallon.
Data pulled from the tracking site GasBuddy on that exact same day showed that nearby competitors across Metro Detroit were charging significantly less, with prices averaging between $3.79 and $3.99 per gallon.
State investigators have kept a close eye on the station over the last few weeks. They report seeing a massive gap in pricing, with the Romulus BP allegedly charging anywhere from 22% to 72% more than other local stations for the exact same grade of gasoline.
“With the price of everything already squeezing families, the last thing Michiganders and our visitors who are rushing to return a rental car need is to be taken advantage of at the pump,” Attorney General Nessel said. “Allegations of marking up prices, here by as much as 72% over the average, call for a vigorous investigation. My office remains committed to pursuing those who engage in illegal price gouging to the fullest extent of the law.”
Under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, it is illegal for any business to charge a price that is “grossly in excess of the price at which similar property or services are sold.”
This is not the first time this specific piece of real estate has attracted state scrutiny. Attorney General Nessel ran a similar price gouging investigation into the same Middlebelt Road station back in December 2023, though state officials noted the station was believed to be under different ownership at that time.
Drivers who believe they have encountered price gouging can reach out to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Team by phone at 877-765-8388 or through the state’s online complaint form.
READ: ‘Kayla, I’m Dying’: Alabama Dad Shot To Death After Bumping Walmart Shopping Cart
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
