Kelantan authorities intercept 816kg of subsidised cooking oil bound for Thailand, seizing a vehicle and arresting a suspect in a late-night operation

KOTA BHARU: An attempt to smuggle 816 kilogrammes of subsidised cooking oil into Thailand was foiled in a late-night operation near the Gual Periok Wholesale Market.

The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry’s Kelantan branch deputy director, Aswadi Jaafar, said a local man in his 30s was arrested.

The suspect was initially detained by personnel from the General Operations Force Battalion 8 at about 11.40 pm.

They had stopped a suspicious Proton Wira Aeroback in the area for inspection.

“An inspection uncovered 48 boxes of branded cooking oil, each weighing about 17kg,” Aswadi said in a statement.

He added that the cooking oil is believed to have been intended for smuggling into Thailand through an illegal route.

The vehicle, bearing a local registration number, was also seized by authorities.

The total seizure is estimated at RM7,040.

This comprises RM2,040 worth of cooking oil and the car, which is valued at RM5,000.

The case has been handed over to KPDN for further action under the Control of Supplies Act 1961.

It is being investigated under Section 21 of the Act, read together with Regulation 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974.

Further investigations are being carried out by KPDN enforcement officers in Pasir Mas.

 The Sun Malaysia