Diesel smuggling attempt foiled in Kudat

KOTA KINABALU: Enforcement officials have thwarted an attempt to smuggle 800 litres of diesel out of Pulau Banggi in Kudat.

Personnel from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, along with marine and maritime officials, noticed a suspicious vehicle during an inter-agency operation dubbed Ops Tiris on Wednesday (April 8).

“An inspection of the single-cab vehicle along the Karakit-Batu Layar main road led to the discovery of four barrels filled with around 800 litres of diesel,” the ministry’s Kudat district chief enforcement officer Nazatul Shima Karim said on Thursday (April 9).

The driver, a local man, failed to produce documentation for the transport or possession of the diesel, and was detained to help investigations under the Control of Supplies Act 1961.

The diesel was also seized.

“We will continue to conduct patrols and raids to prevent abuse and leakages of controlled and subsidised goods in Sabah,” Nazatul said, adding that enforcement would be aggressive and strict.

She added that Pulau Banggi is a fuel smuggling hotspot, and more operations will be conducted in such areas due to the current fuel and economic situation caused by the Middle East conflict.

She thanked the other agencies for their cooperation as well as the public for continuing to be the authorities’ eyes and ears in curbing crime.