KOTA BARU: The move to step up border control and enforcement at petrol stations to curb fuel smuggling has forced smugglers to change their modus operandi.
These smugglers, who have been sending contraband diesel and petrol across the Kelantan-Thai border for years, have been forced to switch tactics to avoid being nabbed by the authorities, particularly by officers from the state Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and members of the police General Operations Force (GOF).
According to sources, if previously, the smugglers purchased fuel at petrol stations located within a 25km radius of the border, they were now willing to travel farther.
"The move by the federal government via the ministry to implement diesel subsidy rationalisation has paid off.
"Not only has the government managed to reduce daily sales by more than 30 per cent, but the integrated, inter-agency enforcement has made it tougher for the smugglers.
"Many smugglers realise that enforcement officers have stepped up their checks at petrol stations to monitor abnormal or unusual diesel purchases, and are now willing to travel farther, even up to Kota Baru, to buy fuel," said the sources.
They added that the smugglers did not mind spending more to travel long distances because the profit they would make was more than enough to cover their costs.
The sources added that these smugglers would normally use four-wheel-drive vehicles and old Proton Wajas to do the job.
"They will look for petrol stations that are not congested, so that they can fill up with as much fuel as they want," the sources said.
Kelantan Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry director, Azman Ismail, said the ministry was aware of the smugglers' new tactics.
"Whatever their modus operandi is, our officers will trace them. We will not hesitate to take action against petrol station operators who are in cahoots with these smugglers," he added.
On Monday, Azman said eight petrol station operators were fined a total of RM24,000 for selling fuel to suspected smugglers.
The operators, who had been in cahoots with suspected smugglers for many years, were issued with compound notices, in a series of operations by the state ministry.
He said the eight operators, with petrol stations within a 25km radius of the Malaysia-Thai border, were fined between January and June 29.
Meanwhile, a survey of several petrol stations in Pengkalan Kubor – the hotspot for smugglers to buy vast quantities of diesel – turned up quiet and empty.
Normally, these stations would be filled with four-wheel-drive vehicles, but since the government implemented the rationalisation plan on June 10, activity has slowly tapered off.