KOTA KINABALU: An attempt to smuggle 2,425 litres of petrol believed to be bound for a neighbouring country was thwarted by the Marine Police.
They seized the petrol from an unmanned wooden boat off Pulau Igang‑Igang in Sabah’s east coast Semporna district.
The fuel was handed over to officers from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry's Semporna branch.
The ministry said in a statement on Friday (May 22) that the petrol was stored in 97 jerrycans on the boat, which was fitted with a 200HP outboard motor.
It believes the petrol was about to be smuggled to a neighbouring country.
"The value of the controlled item seized is estimated at RM9,869.75, while the total value of seizures including the boat was RM19,275," the statement read.
The ministry said that that enforcement operations will be intensified to combat the misappropriation of subsidised controlled goods.
In an unrelated seizure, ministry officials raided a house in Kampung Tanjung Aru, Labuan, that was used to illegally store diesel.
KPDN Labuan director Junaidah Arbain said three intermediate bulk container tanks with a capacity of 1,000 litres each, containing liquid suspected to be diesel.
"The raiding team also found three electric pumps fitted with hoses, a four‑wheel=drive vehicle, and an additional vehicle tank believed to have been used to transfer the controlled goods.
"The total amount of diesel found at the location is estimated at 2,870 litres," she said, adding that the operation was carried out under Ops Tiris with support from the police.
However, the raiding team did not find anyone on the premises and believed that the place was a temporary storage site.
Junaidah said the total value of the seizure was estimated at RM106,570.50.
