RANTAU PANJANG: Petrol smugglers using Malaysian-registered vehicles continue to exploit legal entry points to transport subsidised fuel into Thailand.
Checks by the New Straits Times at the Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complex yesterday revealed at least five Proton Waja cars, believed to belong to smugglers, passing through the checkpoint between 3pm and 3.30pm.
A source said most of the smugglers, aged between 40 and 60, were locals who used the same entry point since early morning.
“They are believed to be moving in and out freely with valid travel documents.
“It is understood that some of them had allegedly bribed the authorities to ease their passage.
“However, it remains unclear whether the bribes were paid to Malaysian enforcement officers or to their counterparts in Thailand, enabling them to move freely across both checkpoints without undergoing inspection,” the source said.
Meanwhile, state Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) director Azman Ismail admitted that it was not easy to nab these smugglers as the ministry can only act against them if they are caught red-handed making repeat purchases.
“Their cars will be filled with large fuel which they bought at nearby petrol stations.
“They then will cross the border via the ICQS.
“Once in Thailand, the fuel will be siphoned into tanks prepared by syndicates there.
“The vehicles would then return to Malaysia through the same checkpoint and head to another station to refill,” he added.
Azman said a majority of the drivers have modified their vehicles so that it can carry larger fuel volumes.
To curb the repeated purchase of subsidised fuel for smuggling, Azman said the ministry has stationed officers at nine petrol stations in Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas and Pengkalan Kubor.
Petrol smuggling has remained lucrative along the Malaysia-Thai border because of the wide price gap between the two countries.
In Malaysia, RON95 petrol is sold at RM2.05 per litre due to subsidies.
In Thailand, it costs between RM5 and RM6 per litre, depending on the area and currency rate.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
