Four suspected smugglers caught off Semporna

KOTA KINABALU: Security forces detained four men in the waters off Pulau Pom Pom when they tried to enter Semporna early Sunday.

Eastern Sabah Security Command director Datuk Mohamad Mantek said the men, ages between 27 and 45, were arrested by members of a special action unit and Marine Police at about 4am.

Initial investigations showed that the four were involved in smuggling subsidised goods such as fuel from Semporna to southern Philippines.

Mohamad said Malaysian security personnel also seized some 45,000 Pesos (RM4,000) from the men apart from dozens of empty jerry cans on their pump boat.