SANDAKAN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) foiled an attempt to smuggle 1,020 packets of subsidised cooking oil after intercepting a boat in Sungai Tanjung Batu waters early Sunday.
Sandakan Maritime Zone Deputy Director of Operations Commander (M) Ahmad Firdaus Shaari said the craft was spotted moving suspiciously at 5am during a routine patrol under Op Sejahtera, Op Cegah Pati, and Op Tiris 4.0.
The suspected boat skipper sped into the river and fled into the mangrove swamp to evade arrest as enforcement officers closed in about 0.01 nautical miles north-west of Sungai Tanjung Batu.
An inspection of the abandoned vessel uncovered 60 packages containing a total of 1,020 packets of subsidised cooking oil, alongside two Yamaha outboard engines of 75 and 85 horsepower.
The seized boat, engines, and contraband, estimated to be worth RM60,550, were brought to the Sandakan Maritime Zone Jetty for investigation under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 for transporting controlled goods without a valid permit.
