PAHANG KPDN SEIZES VESSEL, 200,000 LITRES OF SUBSIDISED DIESEL

PEKAN, May 13 (Bernama) -- 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 to the total value in confiscation of RM565,000 under Ops Tiris at a jetty in Kuala Pahang here on Sunday.

Its director, Jezlily Jamaluddin said the operation was carried out after they received intelligence from police regarding a ship that was anchored under suspicious circumstances.

“In an inspection, the ship's captain failed to present valid documents from the Controller of Supplies regarding ownership of the diesel oil transaction carried on board.

“Further inspection found that there were eight tank compartments on the ship containing a yellow liquid suspected to be subsidised diesel fuel," he said at a press conference here today.

He said the diesel was estimated to be worth RM480,000, while the ship, which is registered under a private company in the country, is worth RM85,000.

“According to skipper, the vessel was forced to dock due to damage. He also stated that the diesel fuel being transported was used for ship repairs and was to be distributed to 30 other ships owned by a company based in Miri, Sarawak,” he said.

Jezlily mentioned that due to this, the captain and three crew members, all foreign nationals in their 30s, were detained for further investigation under the Control of Supplies Act 1961.

"We believe the ship has been docked here for two months and there has been a transfer of diesel fuel from the ship to tanker trucks. Meanwhile, the diesel fuel inside the ship is suspected to have been obtained from various shipyard locations,” he also said.

He emphasised that any possession and distribution of controlled goods such as diesel without a valid licence is a serious offence and the authorities will continue taking strict action under the ‘Kita Gempur’ initiative.”

-- BERNAMA