KUALA LUMPUR: Authorities busted a syndicate that used a pig slaughterhouse in Ayer Tawar, Perak, as a cover to store subsidised diesel illegally, uncovering 2,000 litres of fuel during a raid that led to two arrests.
The suspects could face jail terms and a hefty fine if convicted.
Perak Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) director Datuk Kamalludin Ismail said the illegal operation was exposed following two weeks of intelligence gathering.
He said enforcement officers from the Manjung branch launched the raid under Ops Tiris 2025 at the premises, which doubled as a livestock slaughtering facility.
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“The syndicate’s modus operandi was to obtain subsidised diesel from petrol stations around the Manjung district,” he said according to Harian Metro.
“The fuel was then transferred into large tanks stored inside the pig slaughterhouse, which served as a storage facility for personal use and illegal resale without valid permits,” he added.
Kamalludin said two local men, aged 39 and 49, who identified themselves as a lorry driver and an assistant, were detained after failing to produce any authorisation letters, licences or permits to store the controlled item.
All the seized items — including the diesel, a lorry, six tanks and pumps worth RM42,680 — were confiscated, he said.
The case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 for possessing or storing scheduled controlled items, namely diesel, without written permission from the Controller of Supplies.
“They can be fined up to RM1 million, jailed for up to three years, or both,” Kamalludin said.
He warned that enforcement authorities would not compromise with any party involved in controlled goods misappropriation and would pursue stricter action, including court prosecution.
KPDN, he said, will continue enforcement under the Kita Gempur initiative to curb business manipulation, prevent controlled goods diversion and combat cartels.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
