KOTA BARU: The move to intensify border control and enforcement at petrol stations to check on those purchasing fuel repeatedly has prompted smugglers to change their modus operandi.

These smugglers, who have been sending diesel and petrol across the Kelantan/Thai border, have changed their tactics to avoid being arrested by the authorities particularly by officers of the state Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and members of General Operations Force (GOF).

According to sources, if previously smugglers would purchase the fuel at petrol stations located within a 25km radius from the border, they are now willing to travel further.

"The move by the federal government via the ministry to implement diesel subsidy rationalisation has paid off.

"Not only has the government managed to reduce daily sales by more than 30 per cent but the move has also caused some fear to smugglers.

"Many smugglers have realised that enforcement officers have stepped up their checks at petrol stations for those repeatedly purchasing diesel and due to this, they are now willing to travel outside the radius and even up to Kota Baru town to buy the fuel," said the sources.

The sources said the smugglers do not spending more to travel long distance because the profit that they would get was still reasonable.

The sources added that the smugglers would normally use four-wheel-drive vehicles and old Proton Waja for the activities.

"They will look for the petrol stations that are not congested so that they can fill up as much fuel as they want," the sources said.

Kelantan Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry director Azman Ismail said the ministry was aware about the smugglers' new tactics.

"Whatever their new modus operandi is, our officers will trace them. We will not hesitate to take action against petrol station operators in cahoots with this smugglers," he added.

On Monday, Azman said eight petrol station operators were fined a total of RM24,000 for selling fuel to suspected smugglers.

The operators, who were in cahoots with suspected smugglers for many years, were issued with compound notices in a series of operations by the state ministry.

He said the eight operators, who operate petrol stations within 25km of the Malaysia-Thai border, were fined between January and June 29.

Meanwhile, a survey at several petrol stations in Pengkalan Kubor which are believed to be normally used by the smugglers to purchase diesel repeatedly, were quiet and empty.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/1071632/fuel-smugglers-move-other-districts-purchase-diesel-petrol-after