SANDAKAN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) foiled an attempt to smuggle 78,400 sticks of untaxed white cigarettes into local waters on Thursday.
Sandakan Maritime Zone Director Capt Muhamad Suhairy Hussain said the seizure was made during a joint operation at 11pm after a suspicious vessel was spotted near the stilt village in Tanah Merah, here.
“The enforcement team detected suspicious activity involving a vessel in the area and ordered it to stop by using loudspeakers and sirens for inspection,” he said.
“However, upon realising the presence of authorities, the vessel’s skipper accelerated towards shallow waters near Kampung Tanah Merah in an attempt to escape.”
One individual, believed to have been on board, reportedly fled immediately after abandoning the vessel.
Nonetheless, swift action by the MMEA led to the vessel’s interception about 15 minutes later, 0.2 nautical miles east of Kampung Tanah Merah.
A thorough inspection of the boat, which was equipped with a 40-horsepower outboard engine, uncovered 78,400 sticks of untaxed white cigarettes, suspected to have been smuggled from a neighbouring country.
“The total value of the seizure, including the contraband cigarettes, outboard engine and the vessel, is estimated to exceed RM63,000,” he said.
All confiscated items were brought to the Sandakan Maritime Zone Jetty for further action before being handed over to investigators for an inquiry under the Customs Act 1967 for carrying prohibited goods without a valid permit, as well as the Ports and Harbours Enactment 2002 for failing to display a valid vessel licence.
Muhamad Suhairy said a detailed investigation would be conducted to identify the boat’s owner and the masterminds behind this smuggling operation.
He urged the public to report any information about smuggling activities in national waters by contacting the Sandakan Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 089-229504 or the emergency line 999 for immediate action.
