Fifth Battalion commanding officer Salehin Suleiman said the operation was carried out by the Negeri Sembilan branch of the domestic trade and cost of living ministry at 10.30am on Tuesday.

He said the syndicate refilled 5kg cooking oil bottles with subsidised packets, which were then sold at unsubsidised market prices.

“An inspection of the premises resulted in the arrest of two local men, aged 20 and 22.

“The team also seized a three-tonne lorry, 228 boxes of cooking oil, 5kg automatic filling machines, a bottle-capping machine, a labelling machine and an air compressor,” Bernama reported him as saying.

Also seized were a box sealing machine, a forklift, 32 bulk container tanks, plastic bottles and seven rolls of bottle stickers.

Salehin said the case is now being investigated by the police and other agencies.