Police recovers stolen aluminium ingots worth RM1 million in Malaysia

Johor police sprang into action after receiving a tip-off and recovered two trailers containing aluminium alloy ingots stolen from a factory in the Tebrau Industrial Estate here last Thursday.

At a press conference at the state police contingent in Johor Baru recently, state police chief Datuk Mokhtar Shariff said police also arrested five suspects and seized a car during the operation.

The seized items were worth RM1 million.

Mokhtar said police made their first arrest and seized the trailers within 45 minutes of being informed of the incident, which was reported at 10.26pm.

A police multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) on patrol spotted one of the trailers at Taman Setia Indah, and the driver was ordered to stop the trailer.

Instead, the driver sped away, and the police gave chase.

After a brief run on the Pasir Gudang highway, the trailer overturned. Two men, aged 23 and 46, were arrested. No one was injured in the incident.

The duo, comprising a local and an Indonesian, led police to a warehouse at the Pasir Gudang Industrial Estate where police found the other trailer and seized a Proton Iswara which was allegedly used by the suspects during the robbery.

Three suspects, aged 27 to 61, were also arrested at the warehouse.

One of the suspects had nine convictions for robbery, theft and cheating.

Mokhtar said they are now looking for the mastermind, Quek Song Heng, 50, and three or four members of the syndicate who are still at large.

"When a crime occurs, the police should be notified immediately. The evidence may be lost if there is a delay in reporting a crime," Mokhtar said.