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TAWAU: A 32-year-old local skipper was arrested by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on suspicion of transporting controlled goods without a valid permit in the district’s waters on Monday. 

Tawau Maritime Zone Director Capt (Maritime) Shahrizan Raman said the boat was intercepted by a maritime patrol boat while moving from Tawau Port to Pulau Sebatik at 3.40pm.

“The boat was detained based on intelligence gathering, and inspections of the boat found 500 kilogrammes (kg) of local rice, 500kg of Thai rice, 48kg of sugar packets and four gallons (120 litres) of petrol,” he said in a statement Tuesday. 

He added that investigations revealed that it was an attempt to smuggle the controlled items out of the country as there was no permit and the large quantity of items.

“Seizures, including the cargo and boat, is estimated to be around RM55,000, and the case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967, the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and the Control of Padi and Rice Act 1994,” he added.

He also urged those with information on crimes in Tawau waters to contact the zone operations centre at 089-752116 or the MERS line at 999.