Five syndicates busted in Johor with arrest of 85, seizure of diesel worth RM2 million

SHAH ALAM - The Johor police have crippled five diesel smuggling syndicates, this year, with seizure of subsidised diesel worth RM2 million.

State police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said for the period of seven months from January, the police arrested a total of 85 individuals comprising 65 locals and 20 foreigners.

"A total of 937,215 litres of subsidised diesel worth around RM2 million were seized.

"Besides that, 46 lorries, two cars, two vans, 15 trailers, a boat, eight metal tanks, 33 plastic tanks, 44 oil pump machines, eight oil hoses, 20 phones as well as two sets of generators were also seized,” he told Sinar Harian.

He said the syndicate’s modus operandi was by filling up a full tank of diesel at the petrol station near a storage room.

Other than that, he said a special switch was installed and used to suck up the oil and oil tanks were being modified to fit six tanks with the capacity of 1,000 litres each tank.

"The state police detected that the syndicate will sell the the subsidised oil at a cheaper price in the black market including for industrial usage or for oil tanker ships,” he said.

Kamarul added that the police believed that the syndicate involved the international network, businessmen and those with "Datuk” titles.

He said the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) at the Johor Contingent level, the Marine Police Force (PPM), General Operations Force (PGA) and Bukit Aman were involved in detaining the suspects.

"Police investigation however found that the diesel smuggling syndicate has no connection with the smuggling of cooking oil or any other subsidised goods. This syndicate only focuses on diesel smuggling," he said.

He said the investigation is being carried out under Section 21 of the Supply Control Act 1961.

"PDRM will continue to combat leakages of subsidised diesel. We will not compromise and will continue to track down the individuals involved.

"The public is urged to provide information to the police regarding any illegal activities so that national security and public order could be preserved," he said.