Penang: The Penang office of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has dismantled a syndicate involved in the misappropriation of subsidised diesel, seizing fuel worth RM327,963.80 in a raid on an unauthorised storage facility in Sungai Lokan, Butterworth, near here last night.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, its director S. Jegan stated that following a month of intelligence gathering, officers raided the facility at 8.30 pm and found diesel being transferred between two tanker lorries. During the raid, an 18,000-litre tanker was transferring diesel into a 23,000-litre tanker. Further inspection revealed that the premises failed to produce the necessary documents, licences, or permits to possess and manage scheduled controlled goods.
KPDN seized the tanker lorries, equipment such as hoses and pumps, and business documents, along with 21,190 litres of diesel. Jegan mentioned that the syndicate was believed to accumulate diesel gradually, with members purchasing fuel, particularly on Wednesdays, at petrol stations before price changes took effect. He added that the fuel was subsequently moved to other tankers and was believed to be transported out of Penang to be sold to industrial users at a lower cost than their usual market price.
Two Myanmar men in their 20s, who were working at the illegal storage facility, were also detained during the raid. Further investigations are ongoing to trace the syndicate's mastermind and its network.
Meanwhile, in Lahad Datu, KPDN detained two men and seized 1,000 litres of diesel along with two four-wheel-drive vehicles, with a total value estimated at RM117,150, early today. Lahad Datu KPDN Enforcement chief Azizul Amran reported that the arrests and seizures were carried out under Ops Tiris 4.0 at a petrol station in the district. The operation began at midnight and involved four enforcement officers. During the inspection, enforcement officers found two local men in their 20s filling diesel into drums loaded onto two four-wheel-drive vehicles. Both suspects failed to produce any documents or permits authorising the diesel purchase.
In Beaufort, no offences were detected during a joint inspection of several petrol stations by the ministry and the police.