JOHOR BARU: Police seized RM854,000 worth of illegal firecrackers hidden in a storage unit and a container outside the premises at Taman Scientex in Senai, here, on Sunday (May 5).
Johor police chief Commissioner M. Kumar said the state marine police officers raided the premises following a public tip-off.
The storage facility also served as a retail outlet where the contraband could be purchased.
A 47-year-old man, suspected of being involved in the illegal storage and sale of the unlicensed fireworks, was arrested during the raid at 5.30pm.
The suspect with prior criminal records was remanded to facilitate investigations under Section 8 of the Explosives Act 1957 for possession of explosive items.
"Police found the unlicensed fireworks and firecrackers stored in the premises, while further search of the compound led them to a container where more contraband fireworks were found," Kumar told a press conference at the State Marine police headquarters, today.
Police seized 427 boxes of various types of Happy Boom Celebration Red FireCracker and Pop-Pop.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated seizure yesterday, police arrested a 57-year-old man for allegedly smuggling 3,000 litres of subsidised diesel in Tampoi Industrial Park, here.
Kumar said the marine police in an operation, codenamed Ops Taring Landai, mounted surveillance on petrol stations in Tampoi, suspected to be targeted by diesel smugglers.
The culprits' modus operandi was to modify their vehicles, mostly lorries, by adding additional storage to siphon the diesel.
Police found five square tanks filled with subsidised diesel valued at RM6,540 hidden in the back of the lorry.
The total value of the seizure is valued at RM94,040, which includes the lorry, the square tanks, and the fuel.
