SANDAKAN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) foiled an attempt to smuggle subsidised petrol after intercepting a boat in the waters off Sungai Sabine here on the afternoon of July 16.
MMEA Sandakan Director Kepten Maritim Suhairy Hussain, said the suspicious boat was detected about 0.05 nautical miles northwest of Sungai Sabine while an MMEA patrol boat was conducting Op Sejahtera, Op Cegah PATI (OCP) and Op Tiris 4.0.
As the enforcement team approached, two men believed to be the boat’s crew jumped into a nearby mangrove area and fled into the forest to evade arrest.
A search of the vessel uncovered 18 jerry cans containing an estimated 360 litres of suspected subsidised petrol, along with two outboard engines (40 and 15 horsepower). The total value of the seized boat and its contents is estimated at RM23,300.
Suhairy said the vessel is suspected of committing an offence under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 for transporting controlled goods without a valid permit. It is also believed to have breached Regulation 12 of the Sabah Ports and Harbours Enactment 2002 for misusing its licence by carrying cargo.
He reaffirmed that the MMEA will continue to strengthen maritime patrols and enforcement operations to curb smuggling activities, safeguard the nation’s maritime security, and prevent the leakage of subsidised controlled goods, stressing that the agency will not compromise against offences that threaten national interests. – James Leong
A MMEA personnel inspects the abandoned boat in Sandakan on Thursday.
