SANDAKAN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sandakan Maritime Zone foiled an attempt to smuggle subsidised cooking oil to a neighbouring country during an enforcement operation on Thursday.
Director of Sandakan Maritime Zone, Captain Maritime Suhairy Hussain, said a boat without a registration number was intercepted at 12.45pm about 8.79 nautical miles north of Kuala Mumiang.
“The suspects were seen trying to throw several objects into the sea after realising the presence of an MMEA patrol boat. Further inspection found 120 packets of subsidised cooking oil believed to be smuggled out of the country.
“Cash amounting to RM6,850 was also found on one of the detained crew,” he said.
Three foreign men aged between 16 and 39 were also detained for failing to produce valid identification documents. The boat itself had no registration papers.
The case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Sabah Ports and Harbours Enactment 2002.
The boat, its cargo worth more than RM70,000 and the crew were escorted to the Sandakan Maritime Zone Jetty and handed over to Investigating Officers for further action.
“Maritime Malaysia will not compromise with any parties attempting to threaten the security of our waters through smuggling or cross-border crime.
“Patrols and monitoring will continue to be intensified to ensure our waters remain safe,” Suhairy stressed.
The public with information on smuggling activities, maritime crime or emergencies at sea may lodge reports via the 999 emergency line or contact the Sandakan Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 089-229504, which operates 24 hours.
