KOTA KINABALU: The Marine Operation Force (MOF) seized about 1,000 litres of subsidized diesel from a modified lorry at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) here early yesterday morning.
MOF Commander DSP Husaini Zainal Abidin said acting on a tip-off and continuous surveillance, around 1.40am yesterday, a team of MOF personnel spotted the lorry and found about 1,000 litres of subsidized diesel valued at RM47,900 hidden in the modified lorry.
“Investigation showed the diesel was stored in a container that is located behind the modified lorry.
“A local man, aged 47, was also detained during the raid to facilitate investigation,” he told at a press conference at the MOF jetty here yesterday.
Also present was MOF commanding officer ASP Mohd Aris Jambul,
According to Husaini, the modus operandi of the suspect was to fill about 100 litres of diesel into the lorry from patrol stations.
“The diesel will then be pumped from the lorry tank into a container, hidden behind the lorry, to prevent from detection,” he said, adding that the suspects would move around from one petrol station to another around Kota Kinabalu, Tuaran and Penampang.
Husaini said the lorry and the diesel had been handed over to the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism for investigation under the Supply Control Act 1961.
Asked if such smuggling activities have contributed to the recent shortage of diesel in the state, Husaini said police were still carrying out investigation.