BATU PAHAT: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Batu Pahat zone foiled an attempt to smuggle 300kg of syabu worth RM10mil into the country.
Johor MMEA deputy operation director Capt Maritime Kama Azri Kamil said the smuggling was thwarted off Sungai Ayam waters at 1am on Friday (May 16).
“The operation was conducted following intelligence reports of suspicious movements of a foreign fibreglass boat in the area,’’ he said in a statement.
Capt Maritime Kama Azri said an MMEA enforcement unit was deployed to the area after detecting the presence of the boat from Indonesia.
He said upon realising the presence of the authorities, the suspect fled to the shallow area of the river before jumping into the mangrove forest.
Capt Maritime Kama Azri said the boat, which had no registration number, had been abandoned in a hurry by the suspect to escape the authorities.
“Upon inspection on the boat, we found 12 sacks filled with plastic packages containing crystal power believed to be methamphetamine,’’ he said, adding that each sack weighed about 25kg.
Capt Maritime Kama Azri said the seized items were brought to the Batu Pahat MMEA Zone for further investigation and the case is being investigated under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
“We view cross-border criminal activities in our waters seriously, especially drug smuggling and illegal immigrants attempting to enter our country,” he said.
Capt Maritime Kama Azri called upon the maritime community and local residents to continue channelling information to the authorities to assist them in combating maritime-related criminal activities.
