KOTA KINABALU: An abandoned fishing boat with about RM1.9mil worth of drugs stashed on board drifted into the Station Papa naval outpost in the South China Sea, about 270km from here.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sabah and Labuan FT director First Admiral Mohd Khairulanuar Abd Majid said 42kg of syabu were found on the boat at 8.20am on Monday (Aug 18).
He said the Royal Malaysian Navy in the area found three suspicious packages in the bilge and immediately contacted the MMEA.
"When it arrived at the MMEA jetty in Sepanggar, further inspection by a forensics team found 39 more packets of drugs hidden in the water storage tank," he told a press conference at MMEA headquarters here on Tuesday (Aug 19).
First Adm Khairulanuar said the drugs will be sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis to help with the investigation.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
"The total value of the boat and drugs is estimated at RM2.5mil.
"This is the biggest seizure this year by the Sabah MMEA, and we believe that the drugs were meant to be brought onto the mainland here," he said.
The fishing vessel was close to international boundaries in the South China Sea.
Investigations are continuing to identify its owner and those involved in the smuggling attempt, First Adm Khairulanuar added.
