By Aida Aziz
Photo KPDN
IPOH:The tactic of filling diesel into modified tanker trucks and then selling it on the black market at a higher price, was finally dismantled on Wednesday.
The syndicate was successfully dismantled following a week-long investigation by enforcement officers of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDN) in the state of Perak at the petrol station in Chepor Indah, here.
According to its Director, Datuk Kamalludin Ismail, the modus operandi of the syndicate was to fill diesel oil into modified lorries’ tanks with a pipe connection directly into hidden fiber tanks.
“At around 1:30 am, a team of officers and enforcement officers from KPDN Perak carried out an operation through Ops Tiris 3.0.
“Initial investigations revealed that the vehicle driver was suspected of selling subsidized diesel in the black market involving several companies around Ipoh at a higher price.
“The subsidized diesel purchased at petrol stations for RM2.15 per liter could be sold in the black market for RM3 to RM4 per liter.
“The company of the lorry vehicle did not have a valid permit from the Malaysia Supply Guard to purchase diesel in large quantities,” he said in a statement last night.
Kamalludin said that inspections also found an estimated 2,700 liters of suspected diesel oil in four 1000-liter capacity fiber tanks inside the lorry.
Therefore, the suspected diesel oil, along with several other equipment such as pumping machines, hose wires, and others, were seized.
“The local male driver aged 27 and the lorry attendant aged 28 have been arrested for further investigation.
“The estimated value of the seizure is RM 46,449,” he said.
Furthermore, he added, the petrol station suspected to be involved will also be investigated under existing provisions.
This includes a recommendation to revoke the Retail CSA License for diesel control goods if found guilty of involvement in the misconduct.
The case will be investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974.
