KUCHING: Some 40,000 litres of subsidised diesel worth RM68,000 was seized by the marine police near Tanjung Manis during an operation code named ‘Ops Octopus’ at about 12.50pm on Tuesday.
EVIDENCE: Samples of the seized diesel being taken from the cargo boat for analysis. Photo courtesy of state Marine Operation Force
State Marine Operation Force deputy commander DSP Chris Goh said the diesel was found in a cargo boat which was said to be on its way to Sarikei.
He told reporters yesterday that a check by his men found that the diesel could not be accounted for.
“We have just gotten confirmation from a diesel analysis that the seized diesel is subsidised diesel. We believe that fishermen from Sibu had sold the diesel to the boat operator.
“Three suspects have been arrested for further investig-ation. The case has been referred to the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism,” he said. The three male suspects are Sarawakians aged between 30 and 50 years.
The cargo boat ‘Bunga Tenaga’, bearing registration number QSB 2337 K (SLSS 3010) and belonging to Sibu-based company Yeworld Shipping Sdn Bhd, has also been detained.
Goh said the boat operator was believed to have been collecting subsidised diesel from fishermen and later sell it to industrial players.
He added that so far this year, five cases involving subsidised diesel had been reported.
There were seven cases during the same period last year.
“In 2009, there were about 20 similar cases, but the problem of fishermen selling subsidised diesel to other people has long existed … maybe since the introduction of the subsidised diesel system,” he lamented.
He urged fishermen not to indulge in such activity as it was against the law.
Meanwhile, at about 4.30pm on the same day, a marine police team led by inspector Sydney Kassim David confiscated 300 boxes of hard drinks worth more than RM18,000 from a vehicle at Jalan Lanang, Sibu.
Goh said both operations were based on tip-offs from members of the public.
“Information from members of the public is very important to us. We hope that more people will come forward and provide us with useful information. Informants will get some form of rewards in return,” he said.