KUCHING: An attempt to illegally transport regulated goods by boat was foiled by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) yesterday (Sept 15).
Sarawak’s Maritime Director, First Admiral Maritime Zin Azman Md Yunos, reported that the boat was intercepted by a Malaysian Maritime Patrol Boat while engaged in Operations Permai and Tiris within the Sematan waters.
He noted that the boat was spotted about 2.7 nautical miles northwest of Pulau Talang Besar, raising suspicions that it was heading toward the Malaysia-Indonesia border.
“During the inspection, it was found that four crew members, including the Indonesian skipper aged between 31 and 55, were on board the boat.
“All the crew members did not possess any valid identification documents,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Furthermore, a more thorough examination revealed a total of 1,644 kilograms of sugar, 10 gas cylinders (each weighing 14 kilograms), and 30 kilograms of rice on board, believed to be destined for the Indonesian market.
He confirmed that all individuals involved in the incident were apprehended alongside the vessel, and the confiscated items, valued at an excess of RM142,000, were transported to the Maritime Complex Jetty Tun Abang Salahuddin (KOMTAS) for additional scrutiny.
In the wake of this incident, the Sarawak Maritime Authority issued a call to the general public, with a particular emphasis on the maritime community, urging them to aid the agency by promptly reporting any illicit actions or criminal incidents transpiring at sea.
Reports can be made to the Sarawak State Maritime Operations Center at 082-432544 or the round-the-clock MERS 999 hotline.
