KOTA TINGGI: Some 20kg of syabu worth about RM1mil were seized off the waters of eastern Johor by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
The seizure was made near the Batu Layar beach following intelligence gathered by the agency on an attempt to smuggle the drugs to a neighbouring country.
Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone acting director, Maritime Commander Mohd Najib Sam said a patrol boat spotted a fibreglass boat carrying two individuals at about 9.40pm last Wednesday.
“Upon spotting the enforcement authorities, the suspects turned back and sped towards the shore in an attempt to evade arrest,” he told a press conference yesterday, as reported by Bernama.
He said a 10-minute pursuit ensued before the suspects abandoned the boat about 700m from shore and fled towards the beach.
“All the drugs were found packed in a bag inside the boat.
“We also seized the vessel and its engine, estimated to be worth RM40,000,” he added.
Mohd Najib added that the two suspects are still at large and did not rule out the possibility that the drugs were meant to be handed over to another party at sea.
He said this was a likely scenario owing to the boat’s modest 85-horsepower engine and the relatively short distance of 30 to 40 nautical miles from the coast to the nearest neighbouring country.
The drugs were sent to the Chemistry Department for analysis with the case being investigated under the Dangerous Drugs Act, he added.
