The Kelantan Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has detected a new tactic to smuggle petrol – via a motorcycle fitted with a modified tank.

Its director Firdaus Zakaria said it was believed that through the new tactic, a smuggler could rake in up to RM340 in profits per day.

“Petrol smugglers will commute (between petrol stations near the border and Thailand) about 20 times daily, and can earn about RM17 per trip,” he told reporters at the ministry vehicle storage depot in Chicha Menyabong here today.

Firdaus said on last Monday, a motorcycle fitted with a modified tank filled with 10 litres of petrol worth RM1,522 was seized in an operation at the Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex in Pasir Mas.

However, he said the suspect managed to flee the scene.

Firdaus said during the same operation, a Thai national was also arrested and a car carrying 90 litres of petrol worth RM3,396 was seized.

He said from January to June this year, 29 smuggling cases involving petrol, diesel and cooking oil with seizures worth RM247,704 were recorded in Kelantan.

- Bernama