Domestic Trade Ministry seizes 7,000 litres of diesel in Gopeng

IPOH: A total of 7,000 litres of subsidised diesel was seized by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry at a store in Gopeng due to a raid under Ops Tiris 3.0, says Perak director Datuk Kamalludin Ismail.

He said that the raid had been conducted at about 9am on Friday (May 24) based on information from the public and intelligence obtained around Ipoh over the last two weeks.

Kamalludin added that a Tambun petrol station was raided, as it is believed that the operator is working with the syndicate.

“The enforcement team discovered that the modus operandi was to use a lorry covered with canvas. Its tank has been modified, with various transactions made at the petrol station.

“The driver of the lorry would fill the diesel in the original tank before transferring into the modified tank,” he said in a statement issued on Saturday (May 25).

Kamalludin added that it was discovered in the initial investigation that the syndicate would sell the diesel to the black market at a higher price.

He said subsidised diesel bought at stations is priced at RM2.15 per litre, adding that it could be sold at a price from RM3 to RM4 per litre on the black market.

“We seized 7,000 litres of diesel in a skid tank, a lorry, and several equipment worth RM78,933 from the store. The 25-year-old lorry driver and the 32-year-old store owner have been arrested for further investigations," said Kamalludin.

“In a follow-up action, a team raided the petrol station in Tambun, where the owner admitted to carrying out 13 sales transactions to the lorry driver with a total of 3,000 litres of diesel within an hour,” he added.

Kamalludin said the operator of the petrol station would be investigated, and if found to be involved, stern action would be taken for selling diesel continuously to the lorry driver.

He said the case would be investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and Control of Supplies Regulations 1974.

Kamalludin then added that 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 crime,” he added.

Those with information on such crimes 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".