Kota bharu: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) successfully disrupted an attempt to misappropriate and smuggle 10,200 kilogrammes of subsidised packet cooking oil valued at RM25,500 during a raid in Kampung Pauh Sembilan earlier today. The operation, known as "Ops Tiris 4.0 Bersepadu," commenced at 6:30 am and resulted in the seizure of a three-tonne lorry, a car, and two Mitsubishi Pajero four-wheel-drive vehicles, raising the total value of the seized items to RM110,500.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the raid was initiated following public tip-offs and three days of surveillance on an unoccupied house suspected of being used as a transit point for these controlled goods. During the raid, several individuals were observed transferring 1kg packets of cooking oil from a lorry to three other vehicles. The suspects fled into nearby bushes upon noticing enforcement officers; however, a 49-year-old local man, believed to be the lorry driver, was apprehended.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the 600 boxes of subsidised cooking oil were transported from the Klang Valley to Kelantan, with the intention of smuggling them into a neighbouring country. It is believed that the driver received RM300 per trip for his involvement. Hanif Yusabra Yusof, Kelantan's enforcement director, indicated that smuggling syndicates have adapted their methods by conducting early-morning loading activities in locations outside border districts to evade detection.
The case is currently under investigation under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, with efforts to identify the entire syndicate network, including suppliers, transporters, and recipients. Between January and July this year, the KPDN enforcement office in Kelantan recorded 104 cases related to the misappropriation of subsidised packet cooking oil, with seizures amounting to 72,886 kg valued at RM178,836.
Hanif Yusabra emphasized that KPDN is committed to taking stringent action against those misusing subsidised controlled goods. He also urged the public to continue providing information through the ministry's official channels to aid in curbing subsidy leakages.