JOHOR BARU: Three Indonesian men have been arrested at Bandar Baru Uda here for selling pickled mangoes and guava in the middle of the road.
Johor police traffic chief Supt M. Kumarasan said that the suspects, who are between 26 and 40 years old, were arrested during a joint operation by the police and the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) on Thursday (May 19).
"We received complaints from the public that such activities were still happening around the Bandar Baru Uda area.
"We found that there were still traders selling the pickled fruits at traffic light junctions of the main road in the area despite frequent monitoring by the authorities.
"Following the operation, we were able to arrest three Indonesian men who were selling the pickled fruits at road junctions," he said in a statement here on Thursday (May 19).
He noted that the pickled fruits that were being sold were also found stored behind a pet shop.
"We found two boxes containing pickled mangoes and guava behind a pet store. Our findings fit the complaints we have received from social media users.
"Each box contained about 50 jars of pickled fruits.
"The fruits have been seized by MBJB while the three men have been brought to the Johor Baru North police headquarters for further action under the Immigration Act," he said.
He noted that the selling and buying of goods on public roads is an offence under Rule 10A(1) LN 166/59 of the Road Traffic Rules and offenders could be fined a maximum of RM2,000.
He added that the local council could also take actions against such activities by issuing compounds and seizing the items being sold.
"Such acts need to be stopped to avoid any untoward incidents, which could endanger the traders' lives and those of the public," he said.
