Singapore: Eight men arrested and charged over suspected illegal transaction of MGO

A group of eight men have been arrested and charged for their suspected involvement in an illegal transaction of Marine Gas Oil (MGO), according to the Singapore Police Force on Saturday (11 October). 

On 10 October, officers from the Police Coast Guard (PCG) conducted a routine check on a Singapore-registered tugboat in the waters off Tuas and discovered that several crew members were allegedly involved in the illegal transaction of MGO. Acting on this information, PCG officers subsequently located and intercepted a foreign-registered tugboat in the vicinity.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the crew members of the Singapore-registered tugboat were believed to have misappropriated the MGO, valued at about SGD 6,917, without their company’s knowledge by selling it to the crew members of the foreign-registered tugboat. The foreign-registered tugboat was seized as case exhibit. 

PCG officers arrested three crew members from the Singapore-registered tugboat and another five crew members from the foreign-registered tugboat for their suspected involvement in the illegal transaction of MGO. A total of 92 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes were also uncovered in the possession of the crew members of the Singapore-registered tugboat. The 92 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized and referred to the Singapore Customs.

The three crew members of the Singapore-registered tugboat were charged in court with the offence of criminal breach of trust by employees and the five crew members of the foreign-registered tugboat were charged in court with the offence of dishonestly receiving stolen property on 11 October. 

If convicted for criminal breach of trust by employees under Section 408 (1) of the Penal Code 1871, they shall be punished with an imprisonment term, which may extend to 15 years and shall be liable to fine. If convicted for dishonestly receiving stolen property under Section 411 (1) of the Penal Code 1871, they shall be punished with an imprisonment term that may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.

“The Police takes a serious view of illegal transaction of MGO in Singapore waters. The authorities will continue to conduct enforcement and security checks to prevent, deter and detect such illicit activities in Singapore waters,” SPF added.

Photo credit: Singapore Police Force
Published: 13 October, 2025