TAMBLANG ~ Some 2.6 tons of kerosene was seized by Buleleng Police in Tamblang, Kubutambahan, on Tuesday, an official said.

Head of Buleleng Police’s Criminal Department Ambariyadi Wijaya said they received reports from local people about a lack of kerosene in the area and when they investigated found Made Hadita alias Cedok, 34, hoarding stocks of the fuel.

According to Wijaya, Hadita was planning to sell the government-subsidized fuel at a profit when the price rose.

“We suspected someone was keeping stocks of kerosene, and we were right. The suspect had 2.6 tons stashed away,” Wijaya said.

He said officers seized a tanker truck and 13 drums full of kerosene as well as a pump from the storage location, which had been taken to the police station along with the suspect.

Wijaya said Hadita faced a possible three-year jail sentence and a maximum of Rp10-billion (US$827,000) fine.