Terengganu KPDN Seizes Over 30,000 Litres of Diesel In Gong Badak

The Terengganu branch of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) apprehended a diesel smuggling syndicate at the Gong Badak Industrial area yesterday (9 February), Bernama has reported.

The operation, which began at 12:30 PM, followed a week of intelligence gathering and culminated in the confiscation of 32,760 litres of subsidised fuel valued at RM371,069.86. The group is thought to have carried out its unlawful activities aboard tankers disguised as belonging to fishermen's associations.

"Preliminary investigations indicate that the syndicate used a tanker labelled with the terms National Fishermen's Association and Fishermen's Subsidy Diesel.

"The inspection found that the tanker actually did not have a licence, permit and letter of authorisation to deal with diesel oil from the Supply Controller," Terengganu KPDN director, Saharuddin Mohd. Kia said.

Five septic tanks with diesel oil and a tanker vehicle were successfully seized during the operation. Approximately 16,000 litres of diesel oil were discovered to have been moved from the truck to the septic tank via a rubber conduit during the operation, Saharuddin added.

"Two men, including a Myanmar citizen suspected of being members of the syndicate involved, have been arrested to help with the investigation," he stated.