SANDAKAN, March 5 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detected increased smuggling activities involving controlled goods during Ramadan and in the lead-up to Aidilfitri.
Sandakan Maritime Zone Director, Maritime Captain Muhamad Suhairy Hussain, said these activities persist due to supply and demand among interested parties.
"Among the commonly smuggled goods are rice, cooking oil, sugar, and subsidised items such as petrol and diesel. These smuggling operations typically take place at dusk and during the night, using private boats, fishing vessels, and even tankers," he told Bernama.
In response, MMEA has stepped up surveillance efforts by deploying two ships and four boats for daily patrols to curb smuggling in waters off Sandakan.
Muhamad Suhairy added that, in addition to strategic collaborations with the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), the maritime community—especially fishermen—plays a crucial role as the agency’s eyes and ears, reporting suspicious activities along ESSCOM’s 1,400-kilometre stretch of waters from Kudat to Tawau.
Last year, the Sandakan Maritime Zone recorded a total seizure value of RM90.32 million related to various smuggling offences, he said.
-- BERNAMA
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
