Counterfeit engine oil syndicate raided, 13 arrested

Three premises suspected of bottling and distributing engine oil using counterfeit trademarks were raided today in a joint operation by the police and the domestic trade and cost of living ministry (KPDN) in Ara Damansara and Kepong, Bernama reports.

“The raids were conducted following nearly two months of intelligence gathering. Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate allegedly rebottled engine oil and affixed labels of well-known local and international vehicle manufacturers without authorisation, using fake addresses on the bottles. They then marketed the products via e-commerce platforms and social media.

“The syndicate is believed to have been operating for two to three years and had raked in millions of ringgit in profits,” Bukit Aman internal security and public order department’s wildlife crime bureau/special intelligence investigation deputy director SAC Mohammad Azlin Sadari said.

“Police are still investigating the source of the engine oil used by the syndicate, while the total value of items seized from all three locations is also being determined,” he added.

Engine oil, empty bottles and labels bearing various brand names were among the items seized, and 13 individuals were arrested, including seven foreign nationals from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Bernama visited the Ara Damansara premises and found it to be a commercial unit filled with engine oil bottles of various brands and large tanks believed to be used for storing and rebottling oil into four-litre containers. Enforcement of the Trade Descriptions Order (Certification and Marking of Engine Oil for Motor Vehicles) 2024, which came into force on April 7, has been postponed to October – learn more here.

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