Perak: 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.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Perak KPDN director Datuk Kamalludin Ismail stated that the 6.30 am raid was conducted by an enforcement team from the Taiping KPDN branch under Ops Tiris 4.0, following intelligence on diesel smuggling activities. The syndicate involved in this operation is believed to have sourced the diesel from lorry drivers employed by transport companies.

A week-long surveillance effort led to the identification of a three-tonne Nissan Diesel cargo lorry suspected of being utilized 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. Kamalludin noted that the syndicate operated in the early morning to avoid detection, transferring the diesel into the modified tank after purchasing it.

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. The authorities 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.

The case is currently being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974.