KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) thwarted a suspected attempt to smuggle rice, sugar and petrol out of Sabah on Monday (June 3).
They also arrested a local man who failed to produce a valid licence or document allowing him to transport the cargo.
MMEA Tawau zone director Maritime Capt Shahrizan Raman said they intercepted the boat during the Ops Pluto Timur and Ops Tiris operation at 3.40pm, 0.6 nautical miles (1.11km) south of Tawau.
“The 32-year-old skipper could not produce any valid documentation for the goods found on his boat – 500kg each of local and Siamese rice, 48kg of packed sugar and about 120 litres of petrol.
“The total value of the seizure, including the goods and boat, is estimated at around RM55,000,” he said here on Tuesday (June 4).
Capt Sharizan added that the case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967, the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and the Control of Padi and Rice Act 1994.
He also urged those with information on crimes in Tawau waters to contact the zone operations centre at 089-752116 or the MERS line at 999.
