Two boats were detained and about 40,000 sticks of untaxed cigarettes and 600 litres of petrol seized during a maritime enforcement operation off Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu, recently.
Lahad Datu Maritime Zone director Commander Dzulfikhar Ali said the boats were intercepted following intelligence gathered under Op Sejahtera and Op Tiris 4.0 in waters south of Tanjung Sinakut.
The first boat was stopped at about 8.26am on Wednesday, followed by the second at 9.14am.
“When the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency patrol boat approached both vessels, two adult men from each boat jumped into the sea before fleeing towards the shore,” Dzulfikhar said in a statement.
Checks found that both boats were fitted with additional pump engines.
A search of the first boat uncovered 24 containers, each holding 25 litres of petrol, bringing the total to about 600 litres.
Meanwhile, the second boat was found carrying four cartons of untaxed cigarettes containing approximately 40,000 sticks of Astro-brand cigarettes.
Seven cooking gas cylinders and 20 empty 25-litre oil containers were also found on the second boat.
Dzulfikhar said the two boats were believed to have played different roles in the suspected smuggling operation.
The first boat, which was carrying petrol, was believed to have been transporting the controlled fuel to a neighbouring country, while the second boat was allegedly preparing to collect oil supplies before smuggling and selling them in the same country.
The total value of the seized items and boats from both cases was estimated at RM65,700.
Both cases are being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, while the untaxed cigarette case is also being investigated under the Customs Act 1967.
All seized items and the boats were brought to the Felda Sahabat Maritime Post Jetty in Lahad Datu for further investigation and action.
Dzulfikhar said the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency would continue strengthening intelligence gathering, patrols and enforcement operations to curb smuggling and the abuse of controlled goods in Malaysian waters.
Members of the public with information on maritime crime or suspicious activities are urged to contact the Lahad Datu Maritime Zone Operations Centre via WhatsApp at 016-930 5727 or call 999.
