SEREMBAN: Enforcement officers have seized some 166,600 litres of subsidised diesel worth an estimated RM250,000 in several raids here and in Kuala Pilah.
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Negri Sembilan Domestic Trade and Cost of Living director Muhammad Zahir Mazlan said his officers also seized six lorries, including tankers and other related items, in five operations carried out earlier this month.
Seven suspects were detained during the raids.
“We have opened five investigation papers and the cases are being probed under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and Rule 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974,” he said on Tuesday (Dec 12).
He said those convicted under Section 21 of the Act can be fined up to RM1mil or jailed up to three years or both. If it is a company, then the fine may go up to RM2mil.
Muhammad Zahir said three cases involved lorries which frequently made trips to petrol stations to buy diesel, a controlled item.
Citing an example, he said in an operation on Dec 3, his men stopped a lorry which filled up on diesel at several stations in Kuala Pilah and Bahau.
“Upon checking, we found 2,500 litres of diesel and a modified pump used to transfer diesel from the lorry’s fuel tank to a larger tank,” he said.
He said a second lorry driver using the same modus operandi was detained here the following day and the third at another location along Jalan Lama Tampin on Friday (Dec 8).
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Muhammad Zahir said his officers, together with a team from Bukit Aman, seized 106,500 litres of diesel from a licensed wholesaler in another operation on Dec 5.
“The diesel was found in two tanker lorries and four tanks on the premises.
“Upon checking we found that the licensee did not have the approval to have that amount of subsidised diesel at his premises,” he said.
He added that his officers would continue to monitor and collaborate with the relevant enforcement agencies to intensify and improve supervision of and operations on the distribution of controlled goods.
“There will be no compromise on law enforcement, especially in checking leakage and misappropriation of diesel and other controlled items,” he said, adding that such illegal activities caused the government to lose revenue and had to be stopped.
Muhammad Zahir urged anyone with information on such illicit activities to contact the ministry by sending a WhatsApp message to 019 279-4317/019 848-8000; or by calling 1-800-886-800 or 03 8882-6245/6088.
-TheStar