BUKIT KAYU HITAM, Malaysia — Seven Thais and two Malaysians were arrested and about 16 million baht in fuel seized in raids by the country’s Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry.
A senior ministry official told The Star newspaper that officers raided four illegal depots near Thai border crossings in Durian Burung in Kedah and Wang Kelian in Perlis Tuesday. He said 48,650 litres of petrol and 790 litres of diesel worth around 15.8 million baht were seized.
Police did not name the Thai suspects, saying only they were in their 20s and all accused of fuel smuggling. They are being held for four days as authorities continue to investigate.
Authorities said the closely linked depots purchased diesel and petrol from particular service stations using modified vehicles. The fuel was then collected at the depots being delivered to the Thais for smuggling into the kingdom.
Four similar raids on fuel stores in Penang that netted nearly 100,000 litres of petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum worth about 9.9 million baht also are believed to be connected to Thai smugglers.