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TAWAU: A 27-year-old local man was detained after authorities found 40 gallons of petrol and three LPG cylinders on a cargo boat suspected of being used for fuel smuggling in Tawau waters on Tuesday.

Tawau Maritime Zone director Capt Ariffin Ghazali said the suspect is believed to have moved fuel in small quantities to avoid detection, but his boat was intercepted while travelling suspiciously towards Sebatik Island, about 0.8 nautical miles north of Aji Kuning River.

The skipper also failed to produce valid boat registration documents. The vessel, engine and cargo were seized and taken to the Tawau Maritime jetty for investigation under the Supply Control Act 1961 and the Sabah Ports and Harbours Enactment 2002.

The fuel is estimated to be worth RM3,000, with total seizures valued at about RM46,000. Ariffin said smuggling syndicates often use repeated small shipments as a tactic and enforcement will continue to be tightened in Tawau waters, a known cross-border route.