inp.polri.go.id - Kendari. Personnel from the Southeast Sulawesi Regional Police's Water and Air Police Unit stopped a vessel suspected of transporting illegal fuel in the waters off Balobone Village, Mawasangka District, Central Buton Regency.

During the inspection, officers found 21 plastic drums containing subsidized kerosene. The cargo was deemed suspicious because it did not match the distribution documents. 

The investigation revealed that the fuel was supposed to be distributed to Talaga Island. However, the perpetrators planned to divert it and sell it to Maginti Island, West Muna Regency, at a higher price to generate profit.

In this case, two suspects were arrested along with dozens of drums of subsidized kerosene as evidence. 

The Head of Unit 2 of the Investigation Unit of the Law Enforcement Sub-Directorate of the Southeast Sulawesi Regional Police's Water and Air Unit revealed that the perpetrators' actions violated government-established regulations for subsidized fuel distribution. 

"The fuel is not distributed according to its intended purpose, but is instead sold to other regions at a higher price," he concluded.

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