Authorities inspect the ships before moving them to Kỳ Hà Port in Quảng Nam Province for further investigation. — Photo tuoitre.vn

QUẢNG NGÃI — More than 2,200cu.m of A95 petrol was seized on the water territory of Quảng Ngãi Province, police announced on Wednesday. The petrol had no customs declaration and authorities suspect it had been smuggled.

On April 14, the Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Department on Economic, Corruption-related Crimes and Smuggling and Quảng Ngãi authorities discovered a foreign-flagged ship transporting liquid suspected to be petrol to a Vietnamese ship about 20 nautical miles to the southeast of Lý Sơn Island.

The seized petrol was worth about VNĐ40 billion (US$1.7 million).

Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) newspaper reported the foreign ship, named M/T Pioneer Spirit, is from South Korea. The Vietnamese ship is coded QNg-0350 and managed by Lý Sơn 2 Logistic Service Company.

Kim Chong Hun claimed to be the foreign ship’s owner.

Twenty one people were on board when the ships were accosted.

Seven people are in temporary detention for investigation. Police are expanding their investigation to probe violations of other people involved. — VNS