IPOH: Over 13,000 litres of subsidised diesel was seized by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry under "Ops Tiris 3.0" at a premises in Kampung Acheh in Lumut.
Its Perak director, Datuk Kamalludin Ismail, said the raid was carried out on May 9 at about 12.50pm.
He said further investigations found that this premises has a permit to store diesel and was allowed to purchase the oil without subsidies from licensed providers.
“However those involved have been trying to make profits by purchasing subsidised oil at a nearby gas station repeatedly.
“Subsidiaed diesel fuel purchased at the gas station is priced at RM2.15 per litre while the price of industrial diesel oil costs between RM3 and RM4 per litre.
“The owner of the premises in his 30s has been detained for further investigations,” he said in a statement on Friday (May 10).
Kamalludin added that when the raid was conducted, they found 13,549 litres of diesel in four tanks, pump machines, and hoses worth about RM41,913.
“The suspects in the gas station involved in the illegal activity will also be investigated under the existing provisions, including the recommendation to cancel its retail diesel oil control licence if found guilty.
“The success of this operation is the result of intelligence information carried out by the department for a week in the vicinity of Kampung Acheh.
“The team during their monitoring activities found that the modus operandi of this syndicate is to make repeated purchases of diesel fuel through the premises' original tank at the nearby gas station and later the diesel will be transferred to another tank for industry use,” he added.
He said the case would be investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and Control of Supplies Regulations 1974.
The ministry is issuing a stern warning to any parties involved with misappropriating controlled goods like subsidised diesel.
"We will not compromise with any parties found to be involved in activities or syndicates involved in the crime,” he added.
Anyone with such information can send it to the ministry through WhatsApp at 019-279 4317, its portal at http://eaduan.kpdn.gov.my, the call centre at 1-800-866-800, or its mobile app "Ez Adu KPDN".
