Man arrested, 2,250 litres of subsidised diesel seized in Bukit Kayu Hitam

2026-03-27 - 06:01

The suspect, who has no criminal record, was remanded for four days and will be handed over to the domestic trade and cost of living ministry for further investigation. (Rawpixel pic) JITRA: Police arrested a man and seized 2,250 litres of subsidised diesel believed to have been misappropriated in an operation codenamed Op Tiris at a petrol station in Bukit Kayu Hitam on Wednesday. Kubang Pasu police chief Radzi Abdul Rahim said the 32-year-old local man was detained at about 10am. A lorry found in suspicious circumstances was also seized. “An inspection of the vehicle found several items linked to diesel misappropriation activities, including subsidy cards belonging to other companies and a modified additional tank containing 250 litres of fuel,” he said at a press conference. Further investigations led police to a rented house in Kampung Padang Satu, where more than 2,000 litres of diesel in barrels and tanks was discovered. Radzi said the syndicate had concealed the modified tank under a wooden pallet to avoid detection. “The suspect would refuel in stages, filling up at multiple petrol stations before transferring the fuel into storage containers. “The diesel was then stored in barrels and tanks, with buyers, both local and from neighbouring countries, coming to purchase it, allowing the suspect to make higher profits,” he said. He said that rising demand for fuel, including from neighbouring countries amid the West Asian crisis, had driven syndicates to adopt new smuggling methods. The suspect, who has no criminal record, was remanded for four days and will be handed over to the domestic trade and cost of living ministry for further investigation under Section 21 of the Control of Suppliers Act 1961, read together with Regulation 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974. Police are continuing to track down the owners of the subsidy cards used in the operation. Radzi urged petrol station operators and the public to provide information on such activities, warning that those found abetting smuggling operations could face legal action.