MMEA Nabs Man For Attempted Petrol Smuggling In Tawau

TAWAU, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) arrested a local man, 1.7 nautical miles south of Batu 3 here on Saturday (Jan 4), for transporting 37.8 litres of petrol, believed to be intended for smuggling into a neighbouring country.

Tawau Maritime Zone director Maritime Captain Shahrizan Raman said that the 24-year-old man, suspected to be an 'oil runner', was detained by MMEA personnel during Ops Pluto Timur and Ops Tiris at 9.55 pm. The authorities detected a boat, operated by the man, moving rapidly and in a suspicious manner.

"An inspection of the boat revealed 37.8 litres of petrol, and the suspect failed to show any permit authorising the transportation of subsidised goods. The petrol is believed to be intended for smuggling out of the country, and the suspect was subsequently arrested," Shahrizan said in a statement today.

He said that the location of Tawau, situated along the border between Malaysia and Indonesia, posed a significant challenge for law enforcement in tackling cross-border crime activities.

"We do not rule out the possibility of runners engaged in the activity of transporting controlled goods in small quantities, repeatedly, to penetrate the market in neighbouring countries. However, the MMEA will continue enforcement efforts to combat the smuggling of controlled or subsidised goods," he also said.

Meanwhile, Shahrizan added that his team recorded 108 arrests involving a total seizure value of RM12.2 million last year, with 9,187 vessel inspections conducted in the waters here.

-- BERNAMA