KOTA TINGGI: Two-foreign registered tugboats were detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for illegally transporting and storing fuel.
Johor MMEA acting director Maritime Captain Kama Azri Kamil said the seized tugboats and the fuel were believed to be marine gas oil (MGO) worth RM19.55mil.
“The tugboats were nabbed on Monday (May 4) off Johor eastern waters following our continuous intelligence and monitoring efforts,’’ he said in a statement.
Maritime Captain Kama Azri said the first tugboat was detained at 10.50pm at 1.5 nautical mile (2.78km) southeast off Tanjung Bulat, and the second one was apprehended 40 minutes later about three nautical mile (5.55) of the same location.
“Both Tanzanian-registered tugboats were handled by Indonesian national crews aged between 26 and 54 years old," he said.
Maritime Captain Kama Azri said initial investigation found the tugboats had failed to report their arrival without authorization from the Malaysian authorities.
Further investigation revealed the MGO was stored in a modified vessel with water tanks adding both tugboats did not have valid documents to carry the fuel.
Maritime Captain Kama Azri said the case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967 and the crew have been detained under Section 51(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1959/1963 to assist with investigation.
