Kelantan KPDN Seizes Over Three Tonnes of Smuggled Subsidised Goods In Tumpat

KOTA BHARU, March 3 (Bernama) -- The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) seized more than three tonnes of smuggle subsidised goods along with three vehicles worth a total of RM32,970.80 in a joint operation around Tumpat yesterday.

Kelantan KPDN deputy director, Aswadi Jaafar, said the seizure during the 5.50 pm operation on an abandoned house involved 2,176 kilogrammes (kg) of subsidised cooking oil and 888 kg of granulated sugar believed to be intended to be smuggled into a neighbouring country.

“Inspections found that the premises were being used as a transit location to store cooking oil and sugar before being transported by vehicles to the Malaysia–Thailand border area.

“The team also detected two Proton Iswara cars and a Honda CR-V at the same location, with several individuals loading goods,” he said in a statement today.

He said during the raid, a 50-year-old local man was detained while three other individuals fled into nearby paddy fields and bushes, while a search of the abandoned house uncovered 1,207 kilogrammes of subsidised cooking oil and 629 kilogrammes of sugar stored for smuggling purposes.

“Inspection of one Proton Iswara found 19 boxes of cooking oil weighing 323 kilogrammes and another box weighing 17 kilogrammes, along with 288 kilogrammes of granulated sugar.

“Another Proton Iswara was carrying 288 kilogrammes of sugar, while a Honda CR-V contained 312 kilogrammes of granulated sugar,” he said, adding that the value of the seized cooking oil was estimated at RM5,440 and sugar at RM2,530.80, in addition to three vehicles valued at RM25,000.

“The case is being investigated under the Supply Control Act 1961 and KPDN Kelantan is conducting further investigations to trace the source of the supply and the network involved in the activity,” he said.

-- BERNAMA