TAWAU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (Maritim Malaysia) here foiled an attempt to smuggle 60 subsidised Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders to a neighbouring country, Saturday night.
Tawau Maritime Zone director Maritime Captain Ariffin Ghazali said a patrol boat conducting Op Pagar Laut and Op Tiris received intelligence on suspicious boat movements in the area.
The patrol vessel was dispatched to the identified location near Batu 3 Jetty, heading towards Pulau Sebatik at about 9pm.
“While attempting to intercept the vessel, the boat’s skipper fled by turning back towards the shoreline before jumping off and abandoning the boat along with its cargo,” he said.
An inspection of the boat uncovered 60 filled LPG cylinders believed for smuggling out of the country without valid permit.
The cargo boat, its engine and the entire load, estimated to be worth RM53,800, were seized and brought to the Tawau Maritime Zone Jetty for further investigation under the Supply Control Act 1961.
Ariffin said demand for goods from Tawau typically rises ahead of festive seasons, making such items attractive targets for smuggling syndicates.
He added that syndicates often exploit the quiet of the night to carry out their activities in hopes of avoiding detection by authorities.
However, he said Maritim Malaysia remains committed to strengthening enforcement efforts to curb cross-border crimes, particularly in Tawau waters, which are often targeted by smuggling groups during festive periods.
He urged the public to report any information related to maritime crimes to the Tawau Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 089-750116 or via the emergency line 999 for immediate action.
