Foiled attempt: A policeman standing on the Semporna jetty with the seized jerrycans of petrol.
KOTA KINABALU: An attempt to smuggle out 5,500 litres of petrol from Sabah’s east-coast Semporna district was foiled when the marine police found more than 200 jerrycans filled with the fuel.
During an operation codenamed “Ops Taring Gelora” at Tanjung Manimpa, Bum-Bum Island, on Tuesday, law enforcers found the 220 containers on eight unmanned speedboats.
The police suspect that the items were to be transported to a neighbouring country under the cloak of darkness.
According to a source, marine police were patrolling the area at 3am when they spotted the boats out at sea but without anyone on board.
“The police waited for an hour for someone to come to get them but no one did,” the source said, adding that the fuel, boats as well as the outboard engines were worth over RM150,000.
Region 4 Marine Police commanding officer Asst Comm Ahmad Ariffin confirmed the seizure when contacted yesterday.
He said the seized items had been taken to the Semporna marine police jetty for further probe under the Control of Supplies Act 1961.
