Alleged smuggler nabbed after high-speed chase in Tawau

KOTA KINABALU: A 22-year-old man was nabbed in Tawau for allegedly trying to smuggle out liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) on Saturday (Feb 4) evening.

The 22-year-old Malaysian was seen in a speedboat heading towards Sebatik Island near the border with Indonesia.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director for Tawau, Shahrizan Raman, said maritime officials were conducting anti-crime operations at the area when they noticed the vessel at around 6pm.

"The speedboat was moving fast towards Pulau Sebatik. Our men chased after it and asked the skipper to stop," he said in a statement on Sunday (Feb 5).

When they reached the vessel, they found a total of 17 LPG cylinders in the speedboat.

"The man had no permit to carry the LPG cylinders, which are controlled items," Sharizan said.

He said the man, boat and LPG cylinders were brought back to the Tawau maritime jetty for further investigations under the Supply Controls Act.

He said the total value of the items seized were about RM28,000.

"People who have information of any suspected activities or emergencies at sea can contact our Tawau maritime operations centre at 089-750 116 or 999 for assistance," he said.