ALOR STAR: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has foiled an attempt to smuggle 650 litres of subsidised diesel valued at over RM1,300 by a 38-year-old man at a petrol station in Sungai Petani yesterday.
In the 7.30am raid, the ministry detained the suspect, a lorry driver, and later seized a five-tonne lorry loaded with five concealed units of Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC), each with a capacity of 1,000 litres.
The ministry's Kedah director Muhammad Nizam Jamaludin said the suspect's operation involved directly refueling the lorry's tank, which was equipped with a pump and connected pipes leading to the IBC.
"This scheme was detected by our enforcement team following more than two weeks of surveillance and investigation. The suspect was detained during an extended refueling process.
"Further investigations found about 650 litres of diesel valued at RM1,397.50 in the IBC.
"All equipment, including the vehicle that were seized are valued at about RM28,160.00," he said in a statement today.
Nizam said the case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
A three-day remand order against the suspect was obtained by the Sungai Petani magistrate's court, he said.
He said closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings at the petrol station found that the diesel purchases made exceeded the permitted limit.
"The petrol station operator is being investigated under Regulation 12A of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974 for allowing purchases exceeding the limit set by the ministry.
"If found guilty under the same act, penalties include a fine not exceeding RM1 million or imprisonment not exceeding three years, or both."
Nizam stressed that the ministry will not compromise with any one fund involved in syndicates or smuggling of controlled items.
"Strict action will be taken, including prosecution in court under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001," he added.