The Police in Singapore in a joint operation with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) have arrested ten men for their suspected involvement in an illegal transaction of Marine Gas Oil (MGO).
On 4 August 2022, officers from the Police Coast Guard (PCG) arrested six crew members of a Singapore-registered tugboat and another four crew members of a foreign-registered tugboat for their suspected involvement in an illegal transaction of MGO at the sea off Southern Tuas Basin, Singapore.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the crew members of the Singapore- registered tugboat were believed to have misappropriated the MGO without their company’s knowledge by selling it to the crew members of a foreign-registered tugboat. The tugboat and cash amounting to $8,000 were seized as case exhibits, the police said.
MGO is among the preferred solutions used by shipowners to meet sulphur regulations and is considered a low sulphur fuel oil.
The six men, who are crew members of the Singapore-registered tugboat, are facing court charges that could result in a prison term of up to 15 years plus a fine.
The other four men, who are crew members of the foreign-registered tugboat, are also facing prison charges of up to five years and a fine.
“The PCG and MPA take a serious view of illegal transactions of MGO in Singapore waters. The authorities will continue to conduct enforcement and security checks to prevent, deter and detect such illicit activities in Singapore waters,” the police said.