TAWAU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Tawau Zone detained a local cargo boat suspected of smuggling rice and petrol by concealing the goods beneath a pile of empty bottles.
The incident occurred approximately 2.15 nautical miles south of Batu 3, Tawau, around 7.00 am on Tuesday, MMEA Tawau zone director Kepten Maritim Ariffin Ghazali said in a statement.
According to Ariffin, the interception was made during Ops Pluto Timur, Ops Sejahtera, and Ops Tiris as the boat was detected moving from Batu 3 Tawau waters toward Sebatik Island.
“Two men comprising a local skipper, aged 60, and an Indonesian passport holder, aged 58, serving as an assistant were detained. Both individuals failed to present valid permits for the controlled goods (petrol) and rice,” he added.
Ariffin said the confiscated items included 400 sacks of rice (estimated 4 metric tons), 27 gallons (700 kg) of petrol, a boat and engine. Total value of the seizure is estimated RM55,000.
The case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and the Padi and Rice Control Act 1994 (Act 522). Authorities are probing possible cross-border smuggling, as the boat operated at dawn to evade detection, he said.
“The vessel and seized goods have been escorted to the Tawau MMEA Jetty for further action,” Ariffin said. – James Leong
