KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 18 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) raided an unnamed premises that was used as an illegal store to refill and distribute liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Kulai, Johor, along with a seizure of tools and property worth RM135,000 on Monday (Dec 16).
KPDN enforcement director-general Datuk Azman Adam said the raid by a team of enforcement officers from the Putrajaya KPDN together with the Johor KPDN at 7.30 pm was the result of public complaints obtained through the KPDN 'Kita Gempur' initiative and intelligence conducted a few days before the operation was launched.
"The store is located behind a house of worship and ring-fenced with zinc sheets. There was also a number of heavy vehicles in the premises besides two lorries in a suspicious condition," he said in a statement today.
He said the raiding party exposed a quantity of LPG in the premises along with other equipment used in decanting activities, to transfer gas from 14-kg tanks of subsidised gas to refill 50-kg canisters for industrial use.
Azman said the raiding team seized a total of 368 empty gas cylinders of various brands with a capacity of 14 kg and 50 kg, a lorry, connecting rubber hoses, rig weighing equipment and business documents.
He said they also detained a 51-year-old local who claimed to be a tenant of the premises and another 38-year-old individual believed to be an employee to assist in the investigation.
"The modus operandi of the syndicate is to buy LPG supplies from licensed LPG wholesalers around Kulai and Johor Bahru before hoarding them at the illegal store to carry out the illegal refilling activities.
"The (suspects at the) premises did not produce valid documents under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 [Act 122] to carry out trade related to controlled goods," he said.
Azman said an investigation paper has been opened and further investigation of the case is being carried out in accordance with Act 122 to identify other individuals or companies involved in the subsidy leakage as well as the LPG distribution chain, including identifying the licensed LPG wholesalers who supply LPG to the syndicate.
He added that related parties would also be investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001) [Act 613].
He said that from Jan 1 to Dec 16, 2024, a total of 196 cases related to illegal LPG sales were recorded with a value of confiscation amounting to more than RM800,000.
-- BERNAMA
