Group suspected of counterfeiting fuel

It has been revealed that many motorists have been putting a mixture of solvents and toluene into their fuel tanks.

The cheap mixture is being sold by paint supply stores in the areas of the Taejon City, the Chungju area in the North Chungchong province, and the Chunju area in the North Cholla province.

The police has requested an arrest warrant for six employees of a gasoline supply company including its president, Lee Jong-Ok, as well as nine employees of a paint supply store for violation of laws governing gasoline production and supply.

According to the police, the suspects established a paint supply manufacturing company in April in the Taejon area and through purchases of solvents and toluene at 360 won per liter, manufactured 2.25 million liters of the counterfeit gasoline, which then was sold to the paint stores at a price of 600 won per liter for a total of 1.3 billion won in profits.