Thai Woman Nabbed in Kedah Over Diesel Smuggling Attempt

A Thai woman has been arrested in Kuala Nerang, Kedah, after she was caught allegedly attempting to smuggle subsidised diesel using a pickup truck bearing a Malaysian registration plate.

Kedah Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) Director Muhammad Nizam Jamaludin said the woman, believed to be in her 40s, was detained following a public complaint and intelligence gathered by enforcement officers in Alor Setar.

He said the pickup was first spotted refueling diesel at a station before moving to a secluded area at the back of the premises. Officers later discovered that the number plate, initially a Malaysian registration suspected to be fake, had been switched to a foreign registration once the refueling was complete.

Further inspection revealed a modified tank inside the vehicle used to store the diesel. Investigations also showed that the station had allowed the purchase of 273 litres of diesel in one transaction, breaching the Supply Controller’s directive that sets the maximum daily limit at 250 litres for vehicles with local registration.

“The diesel, valued at nearly RM800, was confiscated along with the pickup truck, purchase receipts and several documents,” Muhammad Nizam said, adding that the total value of the seizure was estimated at RM30,790.

The case is now under investigation for offences under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, which carries penalties including heavy fines and jail terms for both individuals and companies found guilty of violating fuel subsidy regulations.

Source: Malaysian Gazett