LABUAN, Oct 24 — The Labuan branch of the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) Ministry busted the biggest unlicensed diesel deal worth of more than RM254,000 in Labuan waters today.
The ministry seized 20,000 litres of the fuel and the oil barge with three Malaysian crew members on board.
KPDNKK Putrajaya Inter-Agency Unit chief (Enforcement Unit Division) Ravichandran A/L Vadivellu said the seizure was made in an operation dubbed ‘Marintrade Ops’ from 9am until 1pm today.
“The operation was conducted through National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) with Labuan Marine Police involving 30 personnel from the two enforcement agencies,” he said at a press conference at the Labuan Police Marine Jetty here.
He said the vessel owner was found to have carried out illegal oil transaction (fuel sales) without having the required retail license under Regulation 3 (1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974 for the distribution of scheduled retail control goods which is diesel.
“We only seized the vessels and the crew members have been released until the investigation is completed,” Ravichandran said.
Ravichandran disclosed the seizure was the third case made so far this year, the first was in May, involving RM167,918 worth of fuel, and the seized vessel was worth of RM250,000.
“Another case was in June involving eight units of various types of gas tanks worth of RM1,584,” he said. — Bernama
