KOTA KINABALU: Authorities intercepted a passenger boat suspected to be doing "oil running" activities with petrol and diesel on board without permits at Tawau waters on Thursday (July 18).
Tawau zone Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director Maritime Captain Shahrizan Raman said a 21-year-old local man was arrested and six gallons of the fuel estimated to be around 160 litres were seized.
In a statement here on Friday (July 19), he said their patrol vessel managed to trace the suspicious boat moving at high speed towards Pulau Sebatik around 12.15pm.
“The fuel is believed meant to be smuggled out.
“The modus operandi used by the oil runner which is to transport fuel in smaller quantities repeatedly, needed to be curbed to stop smuggling syndicates bringing controlled goods to the neighbouring nation.
“All the fuel and the boat were confiscated and brought to the Tawau maritime jetty, where seizure value is estimated at RM25,000 including the boat engine,” he said in the statement.
Shahrizan added that the case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and the Ports and Harbours Enactment 2002.
