TAWAU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained two local boats for committing various offences in two separate incidents, here, on Monday.
Tawau Maritime Zone Director Maritime Captain Shahrizan Raman said during their operations dubbed “Ops Pluto East 2/2023” and “Ops Tiris”, the patrol team detected a pump boat engaged in fishing activities around Wallace Bay waters at 11.40am.
“Inspection of the boat located 1.17 nautical miles northeast of Sidam Island found a 15-year-old male, who admitted he has no identification documents, operating the boat.
“The boat also has no registration number nor a registered boat licence,” he said.
On the same day at 6pm, another passenger boat, carrying 100 boxes of carrots, was also seized at a location a nautical mile from the Muara Sg Aji Kuning.
The 37-year-old local male skipper failed to declare the cargo and violated the boat licence terms.
Both boats, along with the cargo and all crew members, were subsequently detained and brought to the Tawau Maritime Zone Jetty and handed over to Malaysian Maritime investigating officers for investigation under the Sabah Ports and Wharves Department Enactment (JPDS) 2002, Immigration Act 1956/63, and Customs Act 1967.
All items, including both boats and cargo, were seized until the investigation process was completed with a total seizure value exceeding RM45,000.
