Perak KPDN Seizes Diesel, Vehicle Worth Over RM102,000

IPOH, June 5 (Bernama) -- The Perak Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) seized 3,200 litres of suspected misappropriated diesel, along with a lorry and various equipment, worth RM102,909, in a raid at Kampung Ayer Puteh, Simpang, near Taiping, yesterday.

Perak KPDN director Datuk Kamalludin Ismail said the 6.30 am raid was carried out by an enforcement team from the Taiping KPDN branch under Ops Tiris 4.0, following intelligence on diesel smuggling.

He said the syndicate is believed to have obtained the diesel from lorry drivers employed by transport companies.

"A week of surveillance led to the identification of a three-tonne Nissan Diesel cargo lorry suspected of being used in the illicit operation.

"Investigations revealed that the vehicle had been modified with an additional tank capable of holding  4,500 litres in the cargo section to collect the diesel," he said in a statement today.

Kamalludin said the syndicate operated in the early morning to avoid detection, with their modus operandi being to buy the diesel and transfer it into the modified tank.

"A 36-year-old store owner, was detained to assist in the investigation after failing to produce any authorisation documents from the Controller of Supplies Malaysia to deal in controlled goods.

"We have seized the 3,200 litres of suspected diesel, the three-tonne Nissan Diesel lorry, two Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) tanks, three pumps with hoses, 15 jerry cans, 18 drum containers, a fibre tank, and relevant documents," he said.

He added that the case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974.

-- BERNAMA