SANDAKAN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized a boat carrying about seven tonnes of crude palm oil during an enforcement operation in Sandakan waters early Monday.
Sandakan Maritime Zone director Muhamad Suhairy Hussain said the vessel was detained after a patrol boat conducting Op Khas Pagar Laut 1/2026 monitored intelligence.
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He said the boat was detected in suspicious circumstances about 0.5 nautical miles northwest of Ulu Sibuga before inspection was carried out.
However, several individuals at the scene fled into nearby mangrove areas upon realising the presence of enforcement officers, leaving the boat behind.
Initial inspection found the vessel carrying about seven tonnes of crude palm oil suspected to be without a valid permit or authorisation from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), with the boat and cargo valued at about RM75,000 escorted to the Sandakan Maritime Zone jetty for further investigation under the Malaysian Palm Oil Board Act 1998 and related Sabah port regulations.
