RANTAU PANJANG: Two men were arrested for attempting to smuggle a large quantity of petrol into neighbouring Thailand, General Operations Force Southeast Brigade commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abd Hamid said.
Police seized 420 litres of petrol and two cars worth about RM40,000, he said.
Nik Ros Azhan said the two men aged 23 and 29, were detained at the Mat Roji illegal jetty and are being held for further action.
"The GOF personnel were conducting the Ops Taring Wawasan patrol when they spotted two suspicious cars at about 11.30am.
"After searching the vehicles, they found 420 litres of petrol and immediately detained the two suspects," he said.
Huge difference in diesel and petrol prices between Thailand and Malaysia has long made Malaysian fuel a preferred target for smugglers seeking to profit by engaging in illegal trading, especially in the southern provinces of Thailand.
Smugglers use vehicles with modified tanks to ferry the lucrative commodity into Thailand which shares a land border with Malaysia.