LIMBANG: Less than two weeks before Chinese New Year, fireworks worth RM21.5 million were seized by the Sarawak Marine Police Force (PPM) Region 5 during a raid on a cargo ship at Dermaga Lawas here recently.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata said that the raid, conducted at about 9.30 am, was part of an operation codenamed Ops Taring Pensura.
“Upon inspection of the ship, authorities found approximately 100 boxes containing various types of firecrackers suspected of being smuggled into the country.
“The captain of the ship, an Indonesian, failed to submit valid customs documents permitting him to bring in the firecrackers,” he said in a statement today (Jan 18).
Following this, Mancha said the suspect is believed to have committed an offence under the Explosives Act 1957 (Section 8(a)), which relates to failing to produce documentary evidence regarding the possession or storage of explosives.
“He was arrested, and the firecrackers were seized and handed over to the Investigating Officer of the Criminal Investigation Division of IPD Lawas District, Sarawak, for further action and investigation under the Explosives Act 1957,” he added.
The total value of the seizure is approximately RM21.526 million.
“Anyone who commits an offence under the Explosives Act 1957 (Section 8(a)) could be sentenced to seven years in prison, fined RM10,000, or both,” Mancha warned.
