SANDAKAN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized 800 litres of subsidised petrol on the beach of Kampung Tanah Merah, here, on Wednesday.
Sandakan Maritime Zone Director Maritime Captain Muhamad Suhairy Hussain said the petrol filled in 32 jerry cans was seized after a chase for a boat suspected to be manned by smugglers.
“A MMEA patrol boat detected the boat at 5pm moving suspiciously towards the waters of Tanjung Batu and ordered it to stop using loudspeakers and sirens.
“After realising the presence of law enforcement personnel, the boat turned back and sped towards the beach near Tanah Merah Sandakan in a bid to escape,” he said.
Muhamad Suhairy said the two suspects in the boat managed to escape.
“The boat which did not have a registration number was seized,” he added.
All seized items were brought to the Sandakan Maritime Zone Jetty and handed over to the investigating officer.
Mohamad Suhairy said further investigations would be carried out to track down the boat owners, masterminds and perpetrators.
The case is being investigated under the Supply Control Act 1961.
