Authorities seize 52,000 litres of suspected illegal diesel in Demak Laut raid

KUCHING (April 10): Authorities have seized about 52,000 litres of diesel believed to have been stored illegally during a raid at Demak Laut Industrial Park this morning.

Sarawak Marine Police Region 5 deputy commander Supt Rusdin Banin said the raid, conducted under Op Taring Landai (Op Tiris), took place at about 8.15am following intelligence gathered over the past few days.

He said the operation also involved the Sarawak Air Operations Force and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN).

“During the raid, we found four skid tanks containing approximately 52,000 litres of diesel suspected to have been stored without authorisation.

“Also seized were six high-pressure pump units, six high-pressure hoses, five plastic tanks, two multi-purpose vehicles, and a van believed to have been used in the activity,” he told reporters at the scene.

He said a local man, who claimed to be the owner of the premises, failed to produce any documents or permits from KPDN related to the storage of the fuel and was detained along with all seized items to assist investigations under the Control of Supplies Act 1961.

“The case has been handed over to KPDN Kuching Branch for further action,” said Rusdin.

Rusdin said initial intelligence gathered by the Sarawak Marine Police Region 5 task force over the past four days indicated that fuel was being collected using multiple vehicles filling up at several 24-hour petrol stations around Kuching.

“The activity is believed to have taken place between midnight and 4am, before the fuel was collected and stored at the premises,” he said.