Bid to smuggle out goods worth RM174k foiled
Published on: Thursday, December 01, 2022
By: Efa Rizan
Nik Mohd Rizam and his men showing the controlled items seized from four boats in Lahad Datu.
LAHAD DATU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) foiled an attempt to smuggled out controlled goods using four boats via Felda Sahabat waters, here, on Monday.Lahad Datu Maritime Zone Director Maritime Commander Nik Mohd Rizam Nik Mohd Fauzi said the seizure was made after two MMEA boats on “Ops Pluto Timur” duty detected four suspicious boats heading towards a neighbouring country.
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Realising the presence of MMEA, the skippers steered the boats to the nearest mainland while the MMEA gave chase and managed to detain two men.
However, some of the suspects managed to flee to the mangrove areas nearby.
“The two suspects detained are a 30-year-old skipper and his 35-year-old Filipino assistant.
“An inspection of the boats yielded 3,791 (kg) packets of subsidised cooking oil and 16 LPG gas cylinders,” he said.
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According to Nik Mohd Rizam, the boat skipper also failed to produce the necessary papers to transport all the items.
He said the seizure, including cargo boats and engines as well as items, were estimated worth RM174,611.20.
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“All the seized items and the suspects were taken to Lahad Datu Maritime Zone Jetty for further investigation under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and Customs Act 1967,” he added.
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