TAWAU: Another small-scale but repeatedly conducted smuggling operation was foiled by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) here on Monday.
The incident unfolded following the detention of a local cargo boat carrying subsidised packaged cooking oil and fuel without a valid permit, on the afternoon of April 13.
According to MMEA Tawau Zone Director, Kepten Maritim Ariffin Ghazali, acting on intelligence, a MMEA boat on operational patrol managed to intercept a suspicious vessel speeding towards Sebatik Island. An inspection revealed 14 boxes of packaged cooking oil and six gallons of fuel, estimated at 120 litres, without any valid permit.
He stated that the boat operated by a 29-year-old local man, was intercepted approximately 1.5 nautical miles north of the Sungai Aji Kuning estuary at 12.40 pm.
Further checks found that the boatman was not registered under the boat license, raising suspicions of violations related to supply control and local shipping regulations.
As a result, the skipper, along with the boat and its cargo, were detained and brought to the MMEA Tawau Jetty to be referred to the MMEA investigating officer.
“The case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and the Sabah Ports and Harbours Department Enactment (JPDS) 2002,” Ariffin said. – James Leong
The boatman (left), and subsidised goods at the MMEA Tawau jetty on Monday.
