MERSING: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained a cargo vessel suspected of smuggling tin ore worth over RM1.5mil into the country.
MMEA Mersing zone director Maritime Commander Suhaizan Saadin said the Indonesian-registered cargo ship, believed to be transporting the imported goods without authorisation, was intercepted about 0.1 nautical miles northeast of Pulau Pemanggil at 1.30pm on Sunday (Oct 12).
“The vessel was detected by our patrol boat during Ops Jaksa and Ops Tiris.
“Checks revealed that the cargo vessel, which reportedly departed from Tanjung Pinang, Indonesia, was carrying about 10,240kg of tin ore powder worth more than RM1.5mil, believed to be bound for a jetty in Tanjung Gemok, Rompin, Pahang,” he said in a statement on Monday (Oct 13).
He said the vessel had also anchored without permission from the Malaysian Marine Department director and failed to present any valid documentation from the authorities to import goods into the country.
“The skipper and four crew members, all Indonesians aged between 23 and 47, were detained and brought to the Mersing Maritime Zone office for further investigation,” he added.
The case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967, the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, and the Immigration Act 1959/63.
If convicted, first-time offenders may face a fine of no less than 10 times the value of the goods or RM50,000, whichever is higher or a jail term of up to five years, or both.
Suhaizan stressed that the agency will not compromise with any illegal maritime activity and remains committed to continuous enforcement operations along Malaysia’s maritime zones.
The public is also encouraged to report any suspicious criminal activity or maritime emergency through the emergency hotline at 999 or the Johor Maritime Operations Centre at 07-219 9404.
