NINETEEN men were arrested for suspected smuggling of subsidised diesel involving a seizure of 122,000 litres in a raid in Sungai Tiram in Johor Baru on Sunday.

Johor police chief Kamarul Zaman Mamat said 11 locals and eight foreigners, aged 26 to 58, were arrested at 1am and are believed to have been reselling diesel at a price of RM3.50 a litre on the black market at secret locations for the past month.

Three tanker lorries, a tanker vessel, four fuel hoses and RM390,400 worth of diesel were seized, with a total value of RM10.77 million, he said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and Section 6(1)(C) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

In Shah Alam, the Selangor branch of the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry detained nine men, including a Bangladeshi, for their suspected involvement in misappropriating subsidised diesel to the tune of more than RM200,000.

Ministry enforcement director Azman Adam said a raid was conducted on a premises at Kg Baru Subang at around 11pm with the assistance of Bukit Aman police.

More than 100,000 litres of diesel worth over RM200,000 was confiscated, along with four tanker lorries, two cars and other equipment, with a total value of RM1.7 million.

He added that the case would be investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961. – Bernama, July 20, 2022.