MMEA foils bid to smuggle five air rifles

BATU PAHAT: An attempt to smuggle five air rifles worth RM10,000 was foiled by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) here.

MMEA Batu Pahat zone director Maritime Commander Mohammad Othman said the air rifles, believed to be from Indonesia, were seized near Pulau Sialu, Batu Pahat, on Tuesday (Jan 11).

“The items were seized following continuous intelligence gathering on smuggling activities in Batu Pahat waters.

“At about 7.20pm on Tuesday (Jan 11), MMEA assets were deployed to monitor the location.

“No suspicious boat movements or suspects were found near the area. However, during the operation at the Beacon Panjang Utara area, a white sack and a black bag filled with the air rifles were found. A box containing bullets was also found,” he said in a statement Wednesday (Jan 12).

He added that the items were found about 13.5 nautical miles south-west of Pulau Sialu.

“All of the items seized, worth about RM10,000, have been brought to the Batu Pahat Maritime zone for further investigation,” he said.

The case is being investigated under the Firearms Act 1960, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment, a fine of RM10,000 or both.