IPOH: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry seized some RM194,058 worth of diesel and arrested two men during a joint raid at the Hutan Melintang fisheries jetty.
Perak Domestic Trade director Datuk Kamalludin Ismail said the raid, named Ops Tiris 4.0, was held on Tuesday (Aug 11) at about 1.50pm following two weeks of surveillance.
Kamalludin said some 32,760 litres of subsidised diesel, meant for fishermen, was being transferred to the premises using a 52-tonne tanker during the raid.
"Initial investigations found that a serious non-compliance on the delivery documents, where the address for the delivery order did not match the address that was stated in the Controlled Schedule Article licence owned by the premises.
"Further checks found that the tanker was also not listed to be allowed to transport the diesel to Hilir Perak," he said in a statement Wednesday (Aug 12).
"There was also proof of misappropriation in the sales record to deserving fishermen.
"Records show transactions to nine boats, but physical checks found only four vessels were involved in getting the diesel on one occasion," he added.
Kamalludin said the ministry suspects that more diesel was transported using lorries or sold to unqualified boats at a higher price.
He said two individuals are currently detained to facilitate investigations under the Control of Supplies Act and Regulations.
"Apart from the diesel, we also seized the tanker worth about RM450,000, with the total seized value amounting to RM599,058," he said.
