KOTA KINABALU: An attempt to smuggle out subsidised goods to neighbouring southern Philippines was intercepted by coastguards in the Sandakan waters.
A 70-year-old skipper was one of three men arrested when MMEA patrol boat intercepted them in waters off Sandakan.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sandakan zone director Capt Muhamad Suhairy Hussain on Monday (July 8) said the skipper and a 27-year-old crew member were holding permanent resident identity cards while the third suspect, a 43-year-old possessed a Malaysian identity card.
He said subsidised goods including 150kg of rice, 48kg of sugar and 17kg of cooking oil were found on board.
"We believe that they were trying to smuggle it into a neighbouring country," he said, adding that they did not possess any permits to transport the goods.
He said the goods and the boat with an estimated value of RM63,000 were brought back to the Sandakan MMEA jetty for further investigations.
The case is being investigated under the Supply Control Act 1961 and Regulation 10(1)(b) of the Paddy and Rice Control (Wholesale and Retail Licensing) Regulations 1996, he added.
