Authorities seized 15,000 litres of suspected subsidised diesel, along with equipment including a 16,000-litre tanker lorry and a sport utility vehicle (SUV), during a raid on a property in Tanjung Lobang on Wednesday.
The total value of the seized items is estimated at RM131,079.
Miri District Police Chief Mohd Farhan Lee Abdullah said the operation, carried out at about noon by officers from the Sarawak Police Contingent Headquarters and the Miri District Police Headquarters, also resulted in the arrest of four local men aged between 42 and 52.
The suspects are believed to be involved in the misappropriation and illegal distribution of subsidised diesel.
According to Mohd Farhan, investigations revealed that the suspects had rented a luxury bungalow at the location and used an area beside the house as a collection centre for subsidised diesel.
“Preliminary investigations found that the syndicate employed runners to purchase subsidised diesel from petrol stations around Miri using private vehicle tanks and jerry cans. The fuel was then transferred into storage tanks at the premises before being sold to syndicate members at agreed prices,” he said in a statement.
The case has been handed over to the Miri branch of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) for further action.
Authorities are investigating the matter under Section 20(1) and Section 21 of the Supply Control Act 1961, read together with Regulation 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974.
Mohd Farhan stressed that the diversion of subsidised diesel causes substantial losses to the government and disrupts the supply chain intended for legitimate local consumers.
He also reminded petrol station operators in Miri not to collaborate with diesel smuggling syndicates and urged the public to provide information to the police and KPDN to help combat such activities.
