KOTA KINABALU: Smuggling is surging along Sabah’s east coast ahead of the festive season, driven by rising demand for essential and subsidised goods in neighbouring countries, according to authorities.
In response, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has intensified patrols to curb cross-border crime.
Tawau maritime zone director Capt (Maritime) Shahrizan Raman said two local cargo boats carrying over seven tonnes of subsidised goods without permits were detained in separate operations.
“In the first case, a local cargo boat was intercepted 1.7 nautical miles south of Mile 3. The vessel is believed to have been smuggling the goods to Indonesia,” he said.
A 32-year-old local skipper was found transporting 415 packs of rice, 80 cartons of granulated sugar, 19 boxes of wheat flour, and seven boxes of cooking oil without proper documentation.
In the second case, a patrol boat chased and stopped another cargo vessel 1.6 nautical miles south of Kuala Sungai Tawau at 11.30pm after it was spotted speeding towards Pulau Sebatik waters.
“A 35-year-old local skipper was found carrying 50 filled LPG cylinders and 65 packs of 10kg rice without a valid permit. More suspiciously, his name was not listed in the vessel’s operational licence,” said Shahrizan.
Both cases are being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, the Control of Padi and Rice Act 1994, and the Sabah Ports and Harbours Department Enactment 2002.
With its proximity to Indonesia’s North Kalimantan province and the Sulu archipelago in the southern Philippines, the east coast of Sabah remains a key smuggling route.
Demand for essential and subsidised goods like rice, sugar, cooking oil, and fuel rises ahead of the festive season, making the area a hotspot for cross-border smuggling.
Sandakan, another east coast district near the Sulu archipelago, is also seeing a surge in smuggling activities ahead of the festive season.
According to Sandakan maritime zone director Captain Muhamad Suhairy Hussain, smugglers frequently use private boats, fishing vessels, and tankers to move controlled goods like rice, sugar, cooking oil, and subsidised fuel out of the country under the cover of darkness.
"These illegal activities usually take place at dusk and nighttime, involving various types of vessels to avoid detection," he said.
To counter this, the agency has increased surveillance in Sandakan by deploying two vessels and four patrol boats for daily monitoring.
In collaboration with the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) and local maritime communities, especially fishermen, authorities are relying on public tip-offs to track suspicious activities.
The public is urged to report maritime crimes to the Tawau Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 089-752116 or via the 999 emergency hotline for immediate action.
SABAH SWAK
COURTS CRIME
