MIRI: The Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) here today detained a tugboat and a barge laden with sand for failing to produce a port clearance pass and authorisation document to bring sand into Sarawak.
MME Miri zone director Captain Mohd Shafie Paing said the arrest took place some 2.8 nautical miles southwest of Kuala Baram around 9.30am.
Inspections found that seven crew members including the skipper, had failed to submit a port clearance document as well as authorisation document to bring sand from outside (of Sarawak) into the state.
“Both the tugboat and barge were operated by two locals, two Indonesians and three Indian nationals aged between 21 and 60.
“All of them including the tugboat and barge loaded with sand, were detained for investigation and further action,” he said, adding that the case will be investigated under the Customs Act 1967 for each offence.
Mohd Shafie said the agency remains committed in carrying out patrols and monitoring to prevent any form of violations of the law, smuggling, invasion and maritime crime along the country’s waters and Miri waters.
The maritime community is encouraged to channel information and complaints pertaining to any suspicious activity, maritime crime or emergency at sea to the Miri Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 085-434055 and Sarawak Maritime Operations Centre at 082-432544.
