T

he Papua Police detectives have arrested two suspects involved in hoarding more than 3.5 tons of fuel in Jayapura, Papua.

“They are currently detained at the Papua Police headquarters as they were caught hoarding subsidized fuel intended for the public,” said Papua Police chief spokesman Comr. I Gede Sumerta Jaya on Friday.

Suspects had installed a custom fuel tank that measured 1.5 meters long, 1 meter wide and 75 centimeters high into an Isuzu Panther.

The fuel, bought at a fuel station, was then transported to a stash at Pasar Batu Youtefa in Abepura.

Detectives from the Papua Police made the arrest at a fuel station in APO, Jayapura, on Feb. 1. The van had just finished filling 200 liters of premium gasoline when the suspects were caught. Half of the fuel came from a station in Tanah Hitam and the other half came from the APO station, both in Abepura.

“The two suspects were charged with violating Article 5 of Law No. 22/2001 on oil and gas, which carries a maximum sentence of six years and maximum fine of Rp 60 billion [US$6.5 million],” said Sumerta.

Beside hoarding 3.5 tons of premium gasoline, police also found 800 liters of diesel fuel in jerrycans and modified tanks.

Police are still investigating whether the fuel was to be sold to industries or smuggled overseas, and whether or not the illegal activity had been carried out for a long time.