KOTA KINABALU: A local skipper was caught with about 9,600kg of sugar in packets in waters off Tawau early on Sunday (Feb 16).
The 23-year-old was seen manning a cargo boat around 8.30am when marine officials were conducting an operation in the area.
Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Tawau director Maritime Captain Shahrizan Raman said officials noticed the vessel heading from the Tawau river towards national borders.
They approached it and boarded to inspect.
“Initial investigations found the skipper on board, and he failed to produce any permit or documents for the controlled goods,” he said on Sunday.
He added that the skipper’s name was not on the boat’s licensing registry and said that they found packets containing 9,600kg of sugar stored on the boat.
The skipper, the packets of sugar and the boat were then taken to the MMEA jetty in Tawau for further investigation under the Customs Act 1967, Supply Control Act 1961, and the Sabah Ports and Harbours Enactment, he said.
All seized items were valued at around RM60,000, he added.
“We will continue to work and strengthen relations with the communities and other agencies to curb crime at sea,” Shahrizan said, urging for continued assistance from the public in this effort.
The public can provide information to the Tawau Maritime Operations Centre at 089-752116 or 999.
