MIRI: Five men believed to be involved in smuggling about 800,000 litres of diesel were arrested by the General Operations Force (GOF) aboard two vessels during an operation held on Wednesday.
The five are all locals aged between 37 and 54. The GOF personnel boarded the vessels which were berthed at Miri riverbank in Krokop.
The total amount of seizures was estimated around RM6.7 million including the two vessels.
Also seized was cash amounting to RM25,000 which was used by the suspects to bribe the enforcement officers.
According to Sarawak PGA (GOF) commander, SAC Datuk Khaw Kok Chin, the operation was launched following information received earlier.
He said two of the suspects had allegedly offered the cash (RM25,000) to the enforcement team during the operation to avoid arrest.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the smugglers were taking advantage of the subsidised diesel price to sell to potential buyers in the plantation industry.
The case is being investigated under Section 20 of the Control of Supplies Act 1967.
