SEMPORNA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) foiled an attempt to smuggle out 625 litres of petrol (pic) via Tanjung Pantau-Pantau waters, here, on Tuesday.
Semporna Maritime Zone Director, Maritime Commander Norrimi Hassan, said an enforcement team on “Ops Pluto” duty in Omadal Island detected a boat speeding suspiciously at 11.30pm.
“The skipper, realising the presence of MMEA personnel, steered the boat, which was later found without a registration number, to a shallow area before jumping into the sea and escaped,” he said.
An inspection on the boat found barrels of petrol believed to be smuggled out to a neighbouring country.
The case is being investigated under the Control of Supply Act 1961, said Norrimi, adding further investigations will also be conducted to track down the boat owner and the mastermind behind the activity.
If convicted, Norrimi said, they can be fined up to RM100,000 or jailed three years, or both.
He urged individuals who have information related to smuggling activities or other maritime criminal activities to channel it to the Maritime Zone Operations Centre Semporna at 089-782619 or via MERS 999.
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