SINGAPORE - Police have arrested 12 people suspected to have been involved in the illicit sale of six metric tonnes of marine gas oil, valued at about $4,000.

The foreign men, aged between 19 to 62, were arrested by Police Coast Guard officers who acted on a tip-off on Monday.

Police said on Wednesday that preliminary investigations revealed that seven of the suspects, who were crew of the foreign-registered tugboat Tenaga Maju, sold the oil to the remaining five, who were crew of another foreign-registered tugboat TB Nerine.

The transaction is believed to have taken place at sea, off Pandan River, last Friday.

Police have seized the TB Nerine and cash amounting to $2,760 as part of their investigations. Marine gas oil is a type of shipping fuel.

The 12 men will be charged in court on Thursday for the offence of abetment to commit criminal breach of trust by servant. If convicted, the men face up to 15 years in jail and a fine.