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SANDAKAN: Esscom foiled an attempt to smuggle 2,380 packets of subsidised cooking oil and 150 litres of petrol during a special operation at a river area along Jalan Datuk Tay here on Friday.

Esscom Commander DCP Datuk Victor Sanjos said the operation was conducted with assistance from the Unit Tindakan Khas (UTK) of Markas Taktikal (Martek), Sandakan.

He said an Esscom-led team acted on intelligence and conducted Op TIRIS 4.0 at Sungai Jipon jetty at about 10.30pm, where they detected 140 black plastic bags and a suspicious boat believed to be linked to the activity.

Victor said two men were found on land near the jetty while three others were on the boat, with one suspect arrested while another escaped after the team carried out the raid and inspection.

He said the three suspects on the boat jumped into the river and fled into a nearby mangrove area, while checks found the plastic bags contained 2,380 packets of subsidised cooking oil and five jerry cans containing 150 litres of petrol.

The seized items, believed to have been intended for smuggling to a neighbouring country, were estimated at RM101,508 and handed over to Sandakan police and the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) for further action.