DENPASAR ~ Badung’s Criminal Investigation Squad arrested two men attempting to sell 850 litters of kerosene smuggled from Java to Bali, on Saturday, police said.

Police investigator Made Witaya said the two suspects, Putu Surya Dinata, 41, and Sadi, 42, had been under suspicion for some time and were finally arrested when their pickup was searched in Sibang Gede, Abiansemal, Badung.

Witaya said the two men were apprehended around 6:30am near Badung Market in a Mitsubishi pickup truck carrying four drums full of kerosene they could not provide documentation for.

According to Witaya, Sadi, from Bondowoso, East Java, admitted the kerosene was from Bondowoso, but both suspects were still being questioned.

According to police Sadi bought the kerosene for Rp4,000 (33 US cents) per litre in Java and sold it in Bali for Rp5,500 per litre.

Witaya said he was not sure how the suspects had gotten past Gilimanuk Harbour security, but thought they may have used bananas to hide the drums of kerosene.