Modified fuel tanks lead to duo’s arrest

Not so fast: The suspects were said to be unable to provide the required documentation for the sale and purchase of diesel when requested by the ministry’s officers.

KOTA KINABALU: Two men were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the illegal sale of subsidised diesel.

As they were refuelling their van and 4WD, undercover enforce­ment officers from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) observed that they were taking longer than usual to fill their tanks at a petrol station at about noon on Monday.

“Our officers approached the vehicles to investigate and disco­vered that the fuel tanks had been modified to connect to a larger intermediate bulk container (IBC) inside, capable of holding up to 1,000 litres of fuel,” said Sabah KPDN director Shahril Nizam Shahidin.

He said the IBC tanks had about 800 litres of diesel each.

The suspects were unable to provide the required documentation for the sale and purchase of diesel when requested.

Shahril Nizam said the suspects were then detained, and their vehicles and the diesel seized for investigations to be conducted under the Supplies Control Act 1961.

“The total value confiscated was about RM22,745,” he said.

Shahril Nizam appealed to the public to work with the ministry to prevent smuggling and leakages of control and subsidised goods.

Information can be sent via WhatsApp to 019-848 8000; the e-Aduan KPDN (https://eaduan.kpdn.gov.my); call centre 1-800-886-800; or the Ez ADU KPDN app.