29-7-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysian officials have apprehended two Thai nationals attempting to smuggle petrol across the border into Thailand. The incident, which occurred on Saturday in the northern state of Kedah, highlights the ongoing challenge of cross-border fuel smuggling in the region.
According to a report from Bernama, Malaysia’s official news agency, the suspects—a 21-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman—were intercepted at a roadside checkpoint in Kota Putra, Kedah. The checkpoint had been strategically positioned to monitor vehicles heading towards the Thai-Malaysian border crossing.
Muhammad Nizam Jamaludin, the Kedah office director of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, provided details of the operation. “The result of an inspection on the two Proton Wira vehicles found modified tanks containing 130 litres of fuel, suspected to be petrol, in each car,” he stated on Sunday.
The suspects were initially detained by officials from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry before being handed over to Malaysian police for further investigation. Authorities have withheld the names of the individuals involved, disclosing only their ages.
This incident underscores the persistent issue of fuel smuggling between Malaysia and Thailand, driven by the significant price disparity between the two countries. The cheaper fuel prices in Malaysia create a lucrative opportunity for smugglers to purchase petrol at Malaysian stations and illegally sell it across the border in Thailand.
The successful interception comes despite repeated warnings from Malaysian authorities about intensified efforts to curb petrol and diesel trafficking. This latest capture serves as a testament to the heightened vigilance and stricter enforcement measures being implemented along the border.
Kedah, which shares a border with Thailand’s Songkhla province, has been a focal point for such smuggling activities. The geographical proximity and the economic incentives involved make this region particularly vulnerable to fuel trafficking attempts.
