KOTA KINABALU: Suspected petrol smugglers fled into a mangrove swamp to avoid capture during a recent enforcement operation in Semporna district.
They noticed authorities from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry approaching an illegal jetty at around 5pm on Tuesday (July 9) and started running.
The ministry's Semporna Jong Jee Leong said in a statement on Wednesday (July 10) that the operation, which saw items worth RM74,172.50 seized, was conducted after a week’s reconnaissance.
“During this crackdown, we managed to confiscate some 4,025 litres of petrol, believed to be smuggled,” he said, adding that a car, a speedboat and a boat engine were also seized.
Initial investigations found that the jetty was unregistered and no permit for petrol storage had been issued, Jong added.
He said the case will be investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 under which convicted individuals face up to RM1mil in fines, and for subsequent offences, fines of up to RM3mil or jail terms of up to three years, or both.
Convicted companies face up to RM2mil in fines for the first offence and up to RM5mil for subsequent offences.
“The ministry will continue to conduct operations such as this. Anyone with information on suspicious activities can contact us via WhatsApp at 019-848 8000; e-Aduan portal at http://eaduan.kpdn.gov.my; the call centre at 1-800-886-800; or via the Ez ADU KPDN phone application,” Jong said.
