SEMPORNA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) apprehended a suspicious boat following an integrated operation off Semporna waters on Friday.
The agency in a statement on Saturday said, acting on intelligence from Semporna Maritime Zone Intelligence Unit, the team detected a white boat at about 0.7 nautical miles off north of Pulau Gaya.
The team intercepted the boat for inspection at about 9.10am. When approached, the boat’s skipper jumped into the water and escaped into the shallow areas.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});“Further inspection on the boat found 16 jerry cans, believed containing petrol.
“All the items including the boat, which estimated worth RM11,000 were seized,” said the agency, adding that investigation would be carry out under the Control of Supply Act 1961.
The agency in the statement also said that the MMEA is currently carry out further investigation following the incident, including tracking down the boat skipper.
Those with information on this incident may contact the MMEA Semporna Operation Centre ay 089-782619 to assist in investigation.
In Sandakan, the agency detained five men and seized a vessel carrying 150,000 litres of petrol without proper authorisation in local waters last Wednesday.
Sandakan Maritime Zone director, Captain Muhamad Suhairy Hussain, said the men, aged between 22 and 64, were apprehended along with the vessel at around 5.30 pm, some 9.5 nautical miles northwest of Tanjung Bidara, Sandakan.
“MMEA personnel noticed the suspicious movement of a vessel while conducting their operations and at 5.15 pm the vessel was intercepted for inspection,” he said.
Upon inspection, it was found that the vessel was manned by a skipper and four crew members, all of whom had valid personal identification documents. Two of the crew members were Filipino nationals.
Further investigation revealed that the vessel was transporting 150,000 litres of petrol without any written authorisation, in violation of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
Suhairy warned that strict action would be taken against any individuals attempting to profit illegally.
He also urged the public to report any maritime crime or emergencies by contacting the Sandakan Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 089-229504 or the emergency hotline at 999.
