KOTA KINABALU: Six boats carrying sawn timber and mangrove wood without a permit valuing over RM30,000, were seized by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Semporna waters.
The seizure was made around the reserve forest coastal area near Pulau Timbun Mata and Tanjung Tabu-Tabu on Thursday (Feb 1).
In a statement here on Friday (Feb 2), Semporna MMEA director Maritime Commander Amir Shubli said two of their patrol boats were on duty when they traced several suspicious looking boats along the island’s shore there.
"When approached, the skipper with several boat crews were seen jumping into the water to escape to the nearest landing.
"Inspection on all six boats found 40 planks of sawn timber and 60 mangrove wood pieces left behind.
"All confiscated goods have been handed over to the district Forestry Department for further investigation under Sabah Forestry Enactment 1968 for the offence of bringing forest produce without authorisation," he said in a statement.
Amir said they would continue patrolling and hold enforcement routinely to curb crimes and urged the public especially the maritime community to provide any relevant information to sea crimes to Semporna MMEA at 089-782619 or through MERS 999.
