Kemaman: The Terengganu office of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) seized a tugboat and 47,000 litres of diesel, estimated to be worth RM1.7 million, during Ops Tiris at a jetty near Sungai Kuang, Kemaman, on Saturday. Its director Mohd Mufsi Lat said eight Indonesian men aged between their 20s and 60s, believed to be crew members of the vessel, were also detained in the operation at 3.45 am.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, KPDN had conducted intelligence operations for five months to track a syndicate involved in purchasing diesel from vessels in the South China Sea and from ships docked at the jetty, before selling it on the black market. 'Six KPDN officers, together with eight other officers and members of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), carried out an integrated operation to curb the misappropriation of subsidised controlled goods.

Initial information indicates that the syndicate was obtaining diesel from vessels in the South China Sea and at the jetty using rubber hoses and cargo pumps, before selling it on the black market,' Mohd Mufsi said at the exhibit disposal programme today. He added that inspections also uncovered three onboard water tanks, which had been modified to conceal diesel.

Mohd Mufsi noted that the vessel was found not to have any licence or permit from supply officers to store or trade in controlled goods. Meanwhile, he mentioned that the exhibit disposal programme involved various seized items worth RM205,154.60 from 2023 until this year. 'Among the items disposed of were tank lorries, weighing equipment, fake clothing, bags, shoes, and phone accessories that had undergone court proceedings or compound actions,' he stated.