Johor cops bust secret fireworks warehouse
JOHOR BARU: At first glance, it looks like a warehouse used to store vehicle spare parts. Turns out, it is only a front to hide hundreds of cartons of fireworks.

Johor police chief Comm M. Kumar said a team of marine police raided the warehouse in Taman Scientex, Kulai, at around 5.30pm on Sunday and found the stash.

“At first, we found vehicle spare parts in the warehouse, but upon closer look, we discovered 427 cartons of fireworks, believed to be stock for the upcoming Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration,” he told a press conference at the marine police headquarters here yesterday.

He said a 47-year-old man was arrested during the raid, where police also seized various firecrackers worth about RM854,000.

The suspect was remanded until May 9 to assist in investigations.

In a separate case, marine police also arrested a 57-year-old man at a petrol station in Tampoi here on May 6 under suspicion that he sold subsidised diesel illegally.

“The suspect was caught pumping diesel in a modified three-tonne lorry, which was installed with five large tanks.

“To the naked eye, he looked like he was fuelling up like how lorry drivers normally do, but in reality, he was pumping diesel into a different inlet linked to the modified tanks in the truck bed,” said Comm Kumar.

The suspect was subsequently arrested at around 12.05am.

“We believe the suspect sold diesel to smaller industries as they are not entitled to subsidised fuel,” he said, adding that the suspect was handed over to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry for investigation and action.

Comm Kumar said as of May 6, marine police have seized goods worth RM23.4mil listed under the Controlled of Supplies Act 1961; items under the Explosives Act 1957 worth RM2.06mil as well as contraband alcohol worth RM1.99mil and contraband cigarettes worth RM703,324.
Marine police,Firecrackers,Fireworks,M Kumar,Diesel
JOHOR BARU: At first glance, it looks like a warehouse used to store vehicle spare parts. Turns out, it is only a front to hide hundreds of cartons of fireworks.