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KUDAT: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) foiled an attempt to smuggle 5,000 litres of petrol and detained a Filipino on Thursday.

Kudat Maritime Zone Director, Maritime Commander Hasbullah Omar, said a special operation was conducted near Pulau Mandi Darah following reports of frequent fuel smuggling activities in Kudat waters.

Acting on intelligence, a patrol boat was deployed to the area, where it detected a darkened boat near Telukan Paitan at 4.30am, leading to a pursuit.

Two individuals jumped into the sea in an escape attempt, but one suspect, a 28-year-old Filipino without identification documents, was apprehended along with 25 barrels of petrol.

The seized items, valued at over RM25,000, are under investigation by Kudat Maritime Zone officers, and the public is urged to report maritime crimes to MMEA via their 24-hour hotline.