Kedah KPDN expanding diesel smuggling, diversion monitoring to southern Kedah – Sungai Petani, Kulim

The Kedah domestic trade and cost of living ministry (KPDN) will begin monitoring diesel smuggling and diversion in southern Kedah rather than just at the Thai borders, due to new modus operandi by syndicates, Bernama reports.

“Previously in border areas, most cases involved modified vehicles such as pick-ups, cargo lorries and bonded lorries with additional fibre tanks or special tanks before diesel was transferred into intermediate bulk containers (IBC).

“Now, the trend is shifting to industrial areas where certain parties are believed to be buying subsidised diesel using fleet cards before collecting and reselling it to industries,” said Kedah KPDN chief enforcement officer Zalina Aziz.

Kedah KPDN expanding diesel smuggling, diversion monitoring to southern Kedah – Sungai Petani, Kulim

Kedah KPDN recently arrested a 61-year-old man suspected of using an ice lorry to smuggle diesel

She added that serious attention is being paid to southern areas such as Sungai Petani and Kulim, which are becoming increasingly exposed to subsidised fuel diversion activities.

“We believe there are vehicles filling up on diesel at several different petrol stations using the same registration number to maximise the daily quota before the fuel is transferred and sold to others,” Zalina said.

Under the Subsidised Diesel Control Scheme (SKDS), which provides fleet cards to eligible vehicles, diesel is unlocked at RM2.15 a litre for goods vehicles, RM1.88 for land public transport (including buses, taxis, ambulances and fire engines) and RM1.65 for fishermen.

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