Police raid fake diesel fuel production syndicate

JAKARTA (JP): City Police are questioning executives of two diesel fuel distributor companies in connection with the arrest of their employees for mixing diesel fuel with kerosene in four tank trucks before selling it to customers.

Head of Operational Affairs of the Special Alert Police Squad, Capt. Syaiful Bd., told reporters yesterday the employees of the firms were caught in the act of diluting the diesel fuel at 1 a.m. Friday in the Rempoa district, South Jakarta.

"All drivers and their accomplices were arrested and the confiscation of four generator sets and four fuel tank trucks belonging to PT Teguh Karya Abadi and one fuel tank trunk from PT Yoso Arto Potro was made," Syaiful said.

The raid was conducted by a special team code named Walet (Swallow) from Syaiful's squad, which is assigned to secure the city.

Based on standard procedure, the case, including suspects and material evidence, has been handed over to the Crime Investigation Directorate for further investigation.

Preliminary questioning has found the fake diesel fuel was destined for distributed to a textile factory in Cilincing, North Jakarta.

"Some drivers admitted that a number of other trucks were going to supply the mixed diesel fuel to a public fuel station. The reports are still being investigated," Syaiful said.

So far, police have yet to obtain confessions from the drivers for the alleged role their employers had in the illegal operation, which is believed to have been going on for more than a year at the site.

The raid was conducted following information received from the public.

At the time of the raid yesterday, the drivers and their accomplices from the two companies were allegedly pouring 3,000 liters of kerosene into a tank truck which was already loaded with 5,000 liters of diesel fuel.

Each truck has the capacity of 8,000 liters of fuel.

"It's difficult to detect the mixed diesel fuel because when the pipe below the tank is opened, pure diesel fuel comes out because the kerosene is floating on top of the diesel fuel," explained Syaiful.

Factories and vehicles using such a mixture suffer extreme damage to their machines and engine parts, he said.

Late last week, city police arrested a married couple for their alleged involvement in the distribution of similar fake diesel fuel.

Their activities were allegedly supported by a police officer. (bsr)