Cooking oil smuggling kingpin to be charged


KOTA BARU: The leader of a syndicate smuggling subsidised cooking oil to Thailand, who was among eight people arrested in Kelantan, is expected to be char­ged tomorrow.

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry Kelantan director Azman Ismail said the 28-year-old mastermind, known as Datuk John, has had his remand order extended by three days starting yesterday.

“Datuk John is expected to be slapped with six charges,” he told reporters at Istana Balai Besar here, Bernama reported.

“The other seven people arres­ted have been released on police bail.”

Two enforcement officers arres­ted for alleged ‘counter setting’ for the syndicate were among the seven released yesterday.

The syndicate is said to have misappropriated and smuggled 11,050kg of subsidised cooking oil through illegal bases along Sungai Golok and the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex in Rantau Panjang.

“They transported large quantities via Sungai Golok, while ­smaller amounts were smuggled in luxury vehicles driven by the enforcement officers,” Azman said.

He added the mastermind is believed to have sourced the cooking oil from Negri Sembilan and Selangor.

“They had permits as suppliers in Negri Sembilan under another person’s name and the cooking oil was smuggled into Thailand for double the profit,” he said.

The eight were arrested in Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas, on Sept 25.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
KPDN , smuggling , cooking oil , syndicate , charge

Next In Nation

Tuanku Muhriz warns against normalising corruption
Marine police seize RM211,000 worth of fireworks in Juru
Desperate escape tactics fail as Immigration raids net 150 in KL
Mobula 8 cleans 2.3 tonnes of trash from Kota Kinabalu waters
KL cops probing neglect claims after infant sustains fractured femur
Stay aware of mental state, personal limits when going deep, scuba divers advised
Sabah rep questions lack of 'good-faith compliance' with court order on 40% revenue share
33 young South-East Asian artists wins HONOR Talents Global Design Awards
Third set of donation misuse charges levelled at ex-NGO head, this time in Ipoh
Retired engineer loses over RM100,000 in scam recovery ruse

Others Also Read