TAWAU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) Tawau Maritime Zone foiled an attempt to smuggle 4,560 cartons of cigarettes worth RM156,000 in the Sg Merotai Kecil area, last Thursday.
Tawau Maritime Zone Operations Deputy Director Maritime Commander Amiludin Yengah said the seizure was made from two fishing boats and a lorry, believed used by the smuggling syndicate, around 4.45am.
According to him, an enforcement team detected a speedboat moving from the direction of Sebatik Island towards Tawau some 1.4 nautical miles south of the Merotai Kecil River.