PUTRAJAYA: Ops Tiris 3.0, launched nationwide since Jan 1, has successfully recorded seizures of various controlled and subsidised goods worth RM90.8 million as of yesterday.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) director-general of enforcement Datuk Azman Adam said that the highest number of seizures involved RON95 petrol with 933 cases, followed by diesel with 734 cases.
He said that a total of 616 arrests have been made during the same period, involving locals, permanent residents, and foreign nationals.
"When the government rationalised the diesel subsidy, the modus operandi of the syndicates changed.
"Previously, many were involved in smuggling diesel for profit, but after the rationalisation of diesel, they switched to smuggling petrol instead.
"The value of these seizures sends a serious message, and we at KPDN will continue our operations with several improvements," he said in an interview with Berita Harian and TV3 here today.
When asked about the new modus operandi of smugglers shifting to RON95 petrol smuggling, Azman said that most smugglers use local vehicles to evade the authorities.
He added that some vehicles are modified to carry larger quantities of petrol.
"When we implemented a new strategy that restricted foreign vehicles from freely purchasing petrol and diesel at petrol stations - such as in the northern borders of Peninsular Malaysia, within a 50-kilometre (km) radius, they can't purchase RON95 at all, and for diesel, they can only fill 20 litres.
"In Sabah and Sarawak, within a 30-km radius, the limit applies. But the syndicates' new MO, in response to the KPDN's instructions, is to use local vehicles for repeated purchases and so on.
"When we issued an order to prevent repeated purchases, they switched to using additional tanks," he said.
He said that these are among the challenges enforcement officers face while carrying out their duties, despite various constraints.
"There are many cases of smuggling or misappropriation involving large chains, and it is difficult for us to prove the involvement of certain parties.
"However, we also have ways to link one party to another involved in the same crime," he said.