KANGAR: For as cheap as RM100 per trip, smuggling syndicates along the border here are luring Malaysian teenagers who can legally drive to ferry fuel into a neighbouring country.
And some "hard working" teens saw this opportunity as an easy way to make lucrative money as they could do many trips per day.
Perlis Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry director Hasbullah Abd Rashid said syndicates had been observed exploiting local teens to smuggle RON95 petrol through Padang Besar and Wang Kelian.
"Aside from using modified fuel tanks in their vehicles, the syndicates also instructed these teens to transport the smuggled fuel in jerry cans.
"This fuel is then transferred to illegal storage facilities hidden near the border or smuggled into Thailand, where it is sold to individuals or specific shops under the guise of tourism," he told reporters today.
Hasbullah said the teenagers made an average of five to six trips daily, using local vehicles with modified tanks to transport the fuel.
He said collaboration with other enforcement agencies had been crucial in uncovering such activities.
"Enforcement through Ops Tiris has successfully led to a sharp decline in the seizure of controlled goods, including subsidised petrol and diesel, in Perlis.
"Up to yesterday, we have recorded a total seizure value of RM1.2 million this year in the state, compared with RM4.6 million during the same period last year.
"Furthermore, compound collections up to yesterday (Oct 23) reached RM31,300 compared with RM273,500 during the same period last year, indicating that our actions have successfully curbed this activity," he added.