LABUAN: A 39-year-old man was detained after the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) seized 750 litres of liquid believed to be petrol, worth RM2,940, during a raid at an illegal jetty in Kampung Sungai Keling here yesterday (June 3 ).
Labuan KPDN director Junaidah Arbain said the raid at about 2 pm, under an integrated operation codenamed Ops Tiris 4.0, was the result of intelligence gathered on the suspected unauthorised storage of scheduled controlled goods at the location.
She said enforcement personnel found 20 gallons and two drums containing liquid believed to be petrol, with an estimated total quantity of 750 litres.
“Further inspection found the scheduled controlled goods were believed to have been stored without a valid permit or written approval from the KPDN.
“All the items were seized for further investigation, while the man found at the scene was detained to assist investigations into the possession and storage of the controlled goods,” she said to Bernama today.
Junaidah said the case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
She said the Labuan KPDN viewed seriously any form of abuse or misappropriation involving controlled goods and would continue to intensify enforcement through Ops Tiris 4.0 to prevent the diversion of subsidised supplies and scheduled controlled goods.
“Individuals convicted under the Act may face a fine of up to RM1 million, imprisonment of up to three years, or both, for a first offence,” she said.
Junaidah also urged the public to continue assisting the authorities by channelling information on suspicious activities involving controlled goods through KPDN’s official complaint channels.
“Public cooperation is crucial in curbing subsidy leakages and ensuring that controlled goods are managed and used in accordance with the law,” she added. – BERNAMA
