A 59-year-old woman has been detained by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) after allegedly making repeated purchases of subsidised petrol in Chabang Empat, Kelantan.
The arrest was made at 7.05am on Tuesday during an integrated operation known as Ops Tiris 4.0, carried out jointly by KPDN enforcement officers and the Marine Police Force.
Kelantan KPDN Deputy Director Aswadi Jaafar said authorities had detected suspicious activity involving the woman, who was observed refuelling multiple times at a petrol station in Chabang Empat before she was stopped for inspection.
Checks on the vehicle revealed that the suspect was driving a modified Perodua Kenari fitted with a special compartment designed to store petrol. Enforcement officers also confiscated about 50 litres of petrol believed to have been siphoned from the modified tank.
Authorities estimated the total value of the seizure, including the vehicle and fuel, to be more than RM5,000. The case highlights ongoing concerns over misuse of subsidised fuel, particularly in border areas where such activities are more prevalent.
The case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 for possession of controlled goods with intent to commit an offence. KPDN Kelantan has warned that enforcement actions will continue to be intensified to curb subsidy leakage and prevent exploitation of controlled goods.
