LABUAN: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry seized a locally registered vehicle carrying subsidised diesel worth RM16,075 during its Op Tiris 3.0 - Kita Gempur operation at a petrol station on Dec 8.
Its director Junaidah Arbain said the ministry's enforcement team inspected a four-wheel-drive vehicle equipped with an additional iron tank at 9.49am, and found 500 litres of diesel, believed to be subsidised.
The driver, a 51-year-old local man, was detained for questioning, she told Bernama today.
The case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961, which prevents the sale of controlled articles without licences.
Those found guilty may face imprisonment for up to three years, up to a RM1 million fine, or both, for first-time individual offenders, while companies may face fines of up to RM2 million.
She said the operation resulted from a week-long intelligence effort following public complaints.
She attributed the success to community involvement and reaffirmed its commitment to combatting the misappropriation of controlled and subsidised items.
"We encourage the public to continue reporting such suspicious activities to facilitate enforcement," she added.