he Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) has successfully uncovered an illegal petrol and diesel collection operation involving the use of fake permits in Merang today.
During the raid, enforcement officers seized about 500 litres of petrol along with a lorry and two drum barrels, with the total value of the confiscated items estimated at RM46,800.
Terengganu KPDN director Mohd Mufsi Lat said initial investigations found that the illegal activity was masterminded by a man in his 30s.
“Based on two weeks of intelligence gathering, we believe the petrol and diesel purchased using the fake permits were later resold to industrial buyers,” he said during a press conference in Merang.
Checks carried out during the operation uncovered eight petrol purchase permits, all of which were found to be fake.
Mohd Mufsi said investigators are not ruling out the possibility that the petrol station owner and employees may have been involved in the illegal operation.
According to intelligence findings, the suspect allegedly only needed to raise one hand as a signal when refuelling using the fake permits, without having to make payment at the station counter.
“The suspect is believed to have made repeated purchases between three and four times at the same petrol station before transferring the fuel into drum barrels,” he added.
