Police foiled an attempt to siphon off 23,000 litres of subsidised diesel worth RM949,160 after arresting a 50-year-old local man in Masai on Thursday.
The suspect, believed to be acting as a distributor, was detained during a raid at Jalan Penaga, Taman Kota Puteri, at around 11.45am under Ops Taring Landai.
Marine Police Region Two Commander Assistant Commissioner Noor Azman Jamal said the operation was carried out by the Marine Intelligence Unit (URM) following public information about two suspicious lorries at the location.
“An inspection, witnessed by the drivers of the vehicles, found diesel stored in square tanks installed at the rear of the lorries,” he said in a statement on Friday.
Noor Azman said initial questioning of the suspect and directions provided by him led police to three more lorries parked along the roadside near the premises.
All five lorries were seized along with equipment believed to have been used in the alleged diversion of subsidised diesel.
The suspect, along with the seized vehicles and equipment, was handed over to the Johor Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) for further action.
The case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
