TAWAU: An attempt by two local men to smuggle 312 bottles of liquor by hiding them in gunnysacks placed under a pile of grocery items was foiled by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), here, on Saturday (Nov 4).
Tawau MMEA Director Capt Shahrizan Raman said a patrol vessel spotted a cargo boat some 0.1 nautical miles north-east of Wallace Bay jetty, off Pulau Sebatik, at 10pm.
He said the boat was intercepted after a brief chase and found to be operated by a 35-year-old local assisted by another, aged 32.
“Following an inspection, we found 26 boxes containing 312 bottles of various brands of liquor kept in gunnysacks and placed under a pile of grocery items,” he said, Monday.
“The suspects could not produce any documents that listed the liquor as a permitted load.
“The seized items including the boat are valued at more than RM50,000,” he said, adding the suspects are being investigated under the Customs Act 1967.
Besides hiding the contraband items, Capt Shahrizan said the smugglers also took the “precaution” of transporting a moderate quantity of legitimate liquor so as not to arouse the authorities’ suspicion.
