SANDAKAN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (Maritim Malaysia) Sandakan Maritime Zone has detained a local cargo ship on suspicion of carrying controlled goods without a valid permit in Sandakan waters, on Monday morning.
Sandakan Maritime Zone Director, Maritime Captain, Muhamad Suhairy Hussain said the ship was hauled up at around 9.50am by Maritime Malaysia which was conducting operations near Pulau Berhala.
“The result of the inspection found that the ship had violated conditions of the licence by adding room and modifying the oil storage tank.
“Further inspection found subsidized controlled goods suspected to be diesel oil estimated to be 2,200 litres in the modified oil tank,” he said.
Following that, two locals aged 40 and 50 were arrested for failing to present a letter of permission or a valid document to carry the controlled item.
He said the value of the seizure, including controlled goods and the vessel, was estimated at more than RM54,000.
He said all the seized items were brought into the Sandakan Maritime Zone Jetty and handed over to investigating officers for investigation under the Ports and Harbour Enactment 2002 for violating conditions of the licence.
The case, he said was also investigated under the Supply Control Act 1961 for carrying controlled goods without valid documents.
