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MIRI – The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency in Miri seized RM300,000 worth of diesel in an offshore raid in the South China Sea early this morning.
Miri MMEA Chief Captain Mohd Shafie Paing today said enforcement teams raided a vessel that served as a landing craft and found that the crew did not have a permit to transport the diesel.
He said the raid was carried out at around midnight some six nautical miles in the South China Sea off the Kuala Baram coast, which is 30km north of Miri.
Shafie added that the vessel was carrying 120,000 litres of diesel.
“We believed they were trying to smuggle the fuel that was worth some RM 300,000,” he said in a statement.
“Nine local crew members aged 21 and 66 have been arrested.”
Shafie said the crew had violated the Control Supplies Act 1961, adding that the vessel and the crew have been brought ashore to Miri pending further investigations. – The Vibes, March 28, 2023