Smuggling controlled items out of Malaysian waters.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has seized a foreign boat which it suspects was smuggling controlled items out of Malaysian waters.
The seizure was made around 1am on Saturday when two MMEA patrol boats discovered the foreign vessel near Sematan waters.
During a search on the vessel, about 1,000kg of rice, 500kg cooking oil, 500kg sugar, 200kg flour and some other grocery items were found.
“We strongly believe the foreign vessel was trying to smuggle these items to a neighbouring country.
“The vessel and its crew members have no identification papers.
“There are four foreign crew members on the boat and they were aged between 25 and 35. They are being detained for questioning,” said Kuching district enforcement chief Commander Abdul Harith Mustaffa Ahmad Khairati.
The seized items, he said, would be referred to the Customs Department to be investigated under Section 135(1)(e) of the Customs Acts 1967 for transporting controlled items out of the country.
A total of eight MMEA enforcement officers in two patrol boats were involved in the seizure. They acted following a tip-off from civilians and local fishermen who frequented the waters.
“We (MMEA) will continue to monitor and patrol the waters within our border round the clock.
“Anyone with information on criminal activities within Malaysian waters can call MMEA Sarawak operations centre at 082-392414. The line is open 24 hours a day,” said Harith.
Source: The Star
