TAWAU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) here foiled an attempt to smuggle 30 subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders to a neighbouring country, on April 12.
MMEA Tawau Zone Director, Kepten Maritim Ariffin Ghazali, said a MMEA patrol boat, which was conducting OP PLUTO TIMUR and OP TIRIS, had received intelligence regarding the suspicious movement of a vessel in the area.
Acting on the report, the patrol boat was directed to the location to intercept the vessel, which was detected leaving the Batu 3 Jetty area in Tawau heading towards Sebatik Island at 6.20 am.
Checks on the detained cargo boat, positioned 1.6 nautical miles south of Batu 3, revealed a 36-year-old local male skipper carrying a load of 30 LPG cylinders without any authorisation permit. The shipment was believed to be destined for smuggling to a neighbouring country.
“The skipper’s name is not registered on the boat licence,” he added.
The skipper, along with the boat and all the seized items, was brought to the Tawau MMEA Jetty. All items, including the cargo boat, its engine, and the goods, were confiscated, with the total estimated value exceeding RM30,000. The case is being investigated under the Supply Control Act 1961 and the Sabah Ports and Harbours Department Enactment 2002.
Ariffin stated MMEA Tawau will continue to intensify monitoring of subsidised goods leakage, especially at identified hotspot locations, following the tactics of syndicates that choose quiet hours to avoid detection by enforcement authorities.
He also emphasised that enforcement and monitoring efforts will be continuously stepped up from time to time to combat any illegal activities, particularly in Tawau waters.
“MMEA views all cross-border criminal activities seriously. Patrol assets will always be on standby, ready to be deployed at any time to face any situation,” he stressed.
Members of the public with any information regarding maritime crimes can channel it directly to the MMEA Tawau Operations Centre at 089-750116 or the emergency hotline 999 for immediate action. – James Leong
MMEA personnel inspect the boat intercepted in Tawau waters on Sunday.
