KOTA KINABALU: Three people have been arrested in Sabah's east coast Sandakan district for trying to smuggle subsidised petrol out of the country.

       The suspects, aged between 19 and 36, were detained in a sting operation by the General Operations Force (GOF) at a fuel station at Mile 32 at 1.30am on Tuesday (June 7).

       Sandakan GOF 15th Batallion’s Tiger Platoon and Intelligence Task Force personnel had staked out the station following a public tip-off on the illegal purchase of subsidised petrol there.

       Sabah GOF brigade commander Senior Asst Comm Abdul Rani Alias said the team surveilled the station for about 30 minutes before moving in to arrest the suspects.

       “The team seized two lorries believed to be used to transport the subsidised fuel that was bought illegally,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (June 8).

       He said they also seized 58 oil drums containing 4,400 litres of petrol.

       “We estimate the seized items to be worth RM109,020,” he said, adding that the case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961.

       SAC Abdul Rani said the suspects were brought to the Sandakan police station for interrogation before being handed over to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry office here for further action.