Inside The Datuk John Smuggling Ring How Dirty Officials Drove Luxury Cars Full Of Oil Across Border

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Workers package subsidised cooking oil an inspection on July 5, 2022. — Picture by Hari AnggaraKOTA BHARU, Sept 30 — Cooking oil smuggling kingpin “Datuk John” evaded authorities for years by hiring at least two enforcement officers to drive vehicles loaded with subsidised oil through the heavily guarded Rantau Panjang border checkpoint.
The officers were on the syndicate’s payroll, receiving several thousand ringgit a month to ensure the illicit cargo crossed into Thailand without inspection, the New Straits Times reported citing sources.
The kingpin, believed to be Kelantan’s largest cooking oil smuggler, allegedly sourced his supplies from licensed distributors in Terengganu, who were reportedly unaware of the illegal scheme.
“Datuk John” would personally accompany his lorry drivers to collect the oil before returning to Kelantan. There, the subsidised supplies were repacked from the lorries into luxury cars.
The crucial part of the operation involved the corrupt enforcement officers taking the wheel of these loaded cars just before they entered the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS) complex. They would then drive the vehicles across the 800-metre border crossing into Thailand.
Once in Thailand, other drivers took over, transporting the oil to Sungai Golok and Narathiwat, where it was sold to local traders for a significant profit.
Investigators are now probing other border personnel who may have been complicit by turning a blind eye to the smuggling activities.
The syndicate was finally brought down last week when Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry officers arrested “Datuk John” and seven others — including the two enforcement officers — in a raid that seized over 11 tonnes of subsidised cooking oil. - malaymail

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