Sandakan MMEA Foils Bid To Smuggle Diesel, Petrol, Gas Worth RM830,000

SANDAKAN, July 21 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) thwarted an attempt to smuggle diesel, petrol and gas worth RM830,000 to a neighbouring country by detaining a pump boat 0.8 nautical miles off Tanjung Aru here today.

Sandakan maritime zone director Maritime Captain Muhamad Suhairy Hussain said the boat, operated by a male skipper with seven male crew members, was detained at 1.05 am after the boat's navigation was detected as suspicious and heading towards the waters of a neighbouring country.

"The boat was found to be carrying 250 blue barrels containing 50,000 litres of petrol, 15 barrels containing 3,000 litres of diesel and 120 branded cylinders of gas. The skipper and crew of the boat, aged between 27 and 50, failed to produce valid travel documents.

"They also failed to produce valid declaration documents to carry the controlled goods. In addition, the police also arrested four men and two women aged between 16 and 41 from neighbouring countries who were passengers on the boat," he said in a statement here.

Muhamad Suhairy said the case was being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1962, the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 and the Immigration Act 1959/63.

"This arrest is part of the MMEA's ongoing efforts to combat smuggling and maintain the security of the country's waters," he added.

He said the public can channel any information on smuggling activities or maritime crimes by contacting the Sandakan maritime operations centre at 089-222519 or the emergency line 999.

-- BERNAMA