Buying Petrol Once a Day to Avoid Detection, Finally Caught Smuggling

RANTAU PANJANG: The tactic of petrol smugglers filling up only once a day at different petrol stations to avoid detection by authorities was exposed when a vehicle was found abandoned together with 300 litres of petrol at an oil palm plantation in Kampung Lalang Pepuyu here on Tuesday.

In the incident at around 7 p.m., the General Operations Force (PGA) Southeast Brigade through Op Taring Wawasan detected a Perodua Kenari being driven in a suspicious manner.

The Commander of the PGA Southeast Brigade, Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain, said the driver of the car sped towards the oil palm plantation area as soon as he realised the presence of the duty personnel.

According to him, PGA personnel then chased the vehicle before finding it abandoned in a hurry with the driver’s window open and unlocked.

“Efforts to track down the suspect around the plantation area failed, but an inspection of the vehicle found 10 plastic containers containing 300 litres of petrol believed to be intended for smuggling into Thailand,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

He said preliminary investigations found that the syndicate used a modus operandi of buying petrol at several petrol stations around Jeli and Tanah Merah which have less monitoring by authorities.

He said they only fill up once a day at each station to avoid being detected making repeated purchases at the same location.

“The petrol obtained is then siphoned out of the vehicle’s tank and transferred into plastic containers before being taken to an illegal base to be smuggled into the neighbouring country.

“This tactic is believed to be used to mislead the authorities and prevent their activities from being detected earlier,” he said.

He added that the total value of the seizure is estimated at RM11,116, including the vehicle used.

He said the case has been referred to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Tanah Merah for further action under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.

Sinar Harian