Kedah police successfully intercepted an attempt to smuggle approximately 2,000 litres of petrol to a neighbouring country during a high-impact special operation on Wednesday. The crackdown, conducted at the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security (ICQS) complex, resulted in the seizure of five modified vehicles within just one hour. Kedah Police Chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah confirmed that the operation, led by the Kubang Pasu District Police Headquarters (IPD), commenced at 7:00 am and led to the arrest of five individuals.
The suspects, aged between 23 and 37, consist of four Thai nationals and one local Malaysian man. Upon inspection, authorities discovered that all five pickup trucks had been illegally modified from their original specifications to include concealed additional steel tanks. Each vehicle was estimated to be carrying 400 litres of petrol intended for illegal export. The total value of the seizure, including the vehicles and the fuel, is estimated at approximately RM560,000.
Several key details emerged regarding the syndicate’s operations:
- The smugglers utilised diesel-powered vehicles to transport petrol in hidden compartments to evade detection.
- The activity is believed to be driven by significant fuel price disparities and supply rationing in the neighbouring country due to global economic uncertainty.
- Urine screenings for all five suspects returned negative results, and none of the individuals possessed prior criminal records.
- The suspects and seized items have been handed over to the Kedah Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) for further action.
Datuk Adzli stated that the investigation is now expanding to identify the specific petrol stations providing the bulk supply to this syndicate. He issued a stern warning to petrol station operators against conspiring with smugglers, noting that such actions directly harm the national economy and compromise public safety. The case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and Regulation 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974.
To combat the persistent issue of subsidised goods smuggling, a special task force has been established to strengthen enforcement at border hotspots, including Kubang Pasu and Padang Terap. Authorities plan to implement 24-hour roadblocks and integrated operations based on ongoing intelligence gathering. The police have reaffirmed their commitment to a zero-tolerance policy regarding the illegal siphoning of controlled substances and will continue to intensify monitoring across all border exit points.
