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.
