Over half a tonne of ammonium nitrate seized near Bum-Bum Island

The vessel with the items on board.

KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Semporna might have prevented devastating damage to the marine ecosystem when they raided a boat carrying gunny sacks filled with ammonium nitrate in waters off Bum-Bum Island.

In the 4pm operation on Sunday, maritime officials were conducting Ops Khas Cegah Pati and Ops Tiris 3.0 when they noticed a suspicious vessel near the island, said MMEA's Semporna zone maritime director Amir Shubli in a statement.

He said a suspect jumped into the water and swam to a nearby shore to escape when he noticed their presence.

“Inspection on the boat found 23 gunny sacks filled with around 575kg of ammonium nitrate, a main component used to make explosives,” he said.

“We believe these were meant to make fish bombs,” said Amir, adding that the seizure is proof of the marine police’s commitment to fighting high-impact crimes and those that affect the marine ecosystem.

He said it is also part of their ongoing fight against fish bombing activities.

A look at the Ammonium Nitrate.

“The use of these substances as explosives is not only a crime but a killer to our marine resources,” he said, explaining that if all the explosives were used, it would have caused a devastating impact on the reefs and the ecosystem-rich seabeds.

Amir said operations such as these were part of the bigger initiative to preserve Semporna’s image as a world-class tourism destination.

He said visitors from around the globe visit Semporna to enjoy its diverse marine ecosystem, which brings in bountiful economic benefits to the locals and the state as a whole.

Such operations, he said, were also vital to protect the safety of divers, the sustainability of the local economy, and to ensure sustainable tourism.

Amir said the seized items, including the boat, were taken back to the Azumi Camp Jetty in Semporna for further action under the Fisheries Act 1985 and the Supplies Act 1961.

Those with information on any suspicious or criminal activities can contact the Semporna maritime operations centre at 089-782619 or the 999-emergency call centre.