Sandakan, 1 May – The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has successfully seized a ship carrying 150,000 litres of petrol without a proper permit in Sandakan waters last Wednesday.
According to Sandakan Maritime Zone Director, Maritime Captain Muhamad Suhairy Hussain, five men aged between 22 and 64 were detained with the ship at 5.30pm, about 9.5 nautical miles northwest of Tanjung Bidara.
He said the arrest was made during a routine patrol under several operations, namely Op Sejahtera, Op PLUTO TIMUR, Op Khas Cegah PATI Utara, and Op Tiris 3.0.
“MMEA personnel noticed a ship acting suspiciously. They approached the ship and conducted a full inspection,” he said in a press statement.
The inspection revealed that the ship was operated by a captain and four crew members. All five had valid identification documents. Two of the crew members were identified as Filipino citizens.
However, the officers found that the ship was carrying 150,000 litres of petrol without any written permission. This act is believed to be a serious offence under the Supply Control Act 1961.
Captain Suhairy warned that the agency will not tolerate any party trying to exploit resources or break maritime laws for illegal profits.
“We will continue to monitor and enforce the law at sea. Anyone involved in such illegal activities will face strict action,” he added.
He also urged the public to assist in fighting maritime crime. “If you have any information about maritime crimes or emergencies at sea, please contact the Sandakan Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 089-229504 or call 999,” he said.
The case is now being investigated under the relevant sections of the law. — Bernama
