Ministry expects spike in cases of smuggling, misappropriation

The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry is expecting an increased number of diesel smuggling and diesel misappropriation cases this year.

The ministry’s Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Section director, Zubir Hamsa, said it had seized 3.2 million litres of diesel worth RM7.5 million through Op Tiris involving 324 cases between January and March 27 this year.

“In just three months, the amount of seized diesel is already 50 per cent of last year’s amount. During this period, operations saw 6.4 million litres of diesel worth RM14.2 million being seized in 877 cases, including 386 handover cases.

“At the rate it is going, we are going to see an increase (in cases) this year,” he said during an interview with New Straits Times’ Beyond The Headline podcast.

Last month, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said more than RM5 million worth of subsidised goods that were misappropriated and smuggled were seized during Op Tiris 3.0 from Jan 1 to Feb 15.

In Sabah, 221 inspections were carried out, and 29 cases were recorded, with a total value of controlled items seized amounting to RM192,845.

Zubir said the ministry was scrutinising its standard operating procedures for handover cases to identify grey areas that could be improved.

“Handover cases are when the police catch or arrest somebody in the field over diesel smuggling or anything related, normally it will be handed over to us.

“We are polishing up the SOP to make sure that the chain of evidence is present as it gets handed over from one agency to another.”