BUTTERWORTH: A man, in his 40s, was detained for smuggling subsidised diesel in his modified lorry at a petrol state in Nibong Tebal here yesterday.
The man was arrested by a five member team, in a special operation called Ops Landai.
The team also seized 3,500 liters of diesel worth RM9,000 and the lorry worth RM70,000.
Region One Marine police Commander ACP Mohd Yusof Abdullah said the arrest was the result of prior investigations which revealed suspicious activities being conducted at the area.
“The team had first observed the suspect as he was refueling his lorry at the petrol station.
“They approached the suspect and searched both suspect and lorry.
“The team found that the lorry has been modified to carry approximately 5000 liters of diesel,” he told reporters.
Yusof said the during interrogation the driver had admitted to buying subsidised diesel from petrol stations to sell to factories nearby.
The case will be investigated under Control of Supplies Act 1961 and the seized goods were surrendered to the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry.