Pahang: The Pahang Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) arrested four foreign men and seized 200,000 litres of subsidised diesel, along with a ship, with the total value in confiscation amounting to RM565,000 during Ops Tiris at a jetty in Kuala Pahang here on Sunday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, KPDN’s director, Jezlily Jamaluddin, stated that the operation was initiated after receiving intelligence from the police regarding a ship anchored under suspicious circumstances. During an inspection, the ship’s captain failed to provide valid documents from the Controller of Supplies for the diesel oil transaction carried on board. Further investigation revealed eight tank compartments on the ship containing a yellow liquid suspected to be subsidised diesel fuel.

The diesel was estimated to be worth RM480,000, while the ship, registered under a private company in the country, is valued at RM85,000. The skipper claimed that the vessel was forced to dock due to damage and stated that the diesel fuel was intended for ship repairs and distribution to 30 other ships owned by a company based in Miri, Sarawak.

Jezlily noted that the captain and three crew members, all foreign nationals in their 30s, were detained for further investigation under the Control of Supplies Act 1961. The authorities suspect that the ship has been docked for two months, with diesel fuel transferred from the ship to tanker trucks, and believe the fuel was sourced from various shipyard locations.

He stressed that possession and distribution of controlled goods like diesel without a valid license is a serious offence, and authorities will continue to take strict action under the ‘Kita Gempur’ initiative.