KUCHING: Enforcement officials have foiled a major smuggling of subsidised diesel with the arrest of two men and seizure of a tanker vessel at the Sarawak River barrage on Sunday (Feb 11).
Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Sarawak director Matthew Dominic Barin said 430,000 litres of diesel, estimated at RM924,500, were seized along with the vessel, bringing the total seizure value to about RM5 million.
He said KPDN Sarawak had received the case from the Sarawak Marine Police Region 5.
According to him two individuals, a local man and a Myanmar man, were handed over to the KPDN operation team for further investigation.
The case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 for possessing or being in control of controlled goods under circumstances that raise suspicion of committing an offence.
“Further investigations will delve into the same Act to identify individuals or companies involved in these activities or the diesel distribution chain, including sources of diesel obtained and distributed by any irresponsible party,” he said.
In a related develoopment Matthew said KPDN Sarawak recorded a total of 121 cases under ‘Ops Tiris’ from March to December 31 last year, involving the seizure of 6,554,327 litres of subsidised diesel.
The total value of the seized diesel was estimated at RM7 million.
“Since March 1 last year, KPDN Sarawak enforcement officers had conducted 991 inspections of petrol stations and diesel wholesalers throughout Sarawak under ‘Ops Tiris’.
“These inspections aimed to ensure traders’ compliance with the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and its regulations,” he said in a statement.
Anyone with information regarding any smuggling of controlled and subsidised goods can lodge a complaint with the ministry via WhatsApp at 019-848 8000, the complaints portal at e-aduan.kpdn.gov.my, the call centre at 1-800-886-80, and the KPDN Ez ADU app.
