PERLIS CUSTOMS FOIL ATTEMPT TO SMUGGLE DIESEL, PETROL

PADANG BESAR, June 20 (Bernama) -- Perlis Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) foiled an attempt to smuggle diesel and petrol as well as confiscating other commodities involving the value of RM108,585.66 and tax of RM63,279.99 in a Special Integrated Operation on Subsidised Diesel from May 27 to June 10.

Perlis Customs director Ismail Hashim said in the attempt to smuggle diesel, there were four separate arrests with a total seizure of 811 litres estimated to be worth RM1,781.41 involving three vehicles with Thai registration numbers and one Malaysian registered vehicle.

"All the vehicles were detained while passing through the ICQS (Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security) Complex in Padang Besar.

"Four Thai nationals, two men and two women who were the drivers of the vehicles, aged between 31 and 49 years old, were detained to assist the investigation," he said at a press conference here today.

Ismail said that for petrol there were also four arrests involving 205 litres with an estimated value of RM420.25 involving three vehicles with Thai registration numbers and one vehicle with Malaysian registration number were also detained at the Padang Besar ICQS complex.

"Four Thai nationals aged between 34 and 53, comprising three men and one woman, who were the drivers of the vehicles, were arrested to assist in the investigation. All eight cases (four diesel and four petrol cases) were investigated under Section 135 (1 )(e) Customs Act 1967," he said.

Meanwhile, he said four other cases involved the confiscation of other commodities such as rice flour, glutinous rice, Thai sugar and seasoning powder amounting to 597 kilogrammes value at RM7,080 and 82.70 litres of liquor (RM44,874) as well as a Toyota Yaris (RM30 ,000) and 69.8 litres of cough medicine (RM24,430).

"The value of the commodities amounted to RM106,384 with tax amounting to RM63,279.99," said Ismail who also announced his department is committed to moving in line with the government's desire to restore the national economy by increasing enforcement so that the national economy continues to be sustainable and stable.

-- BERNAMA