Seized vessel: Saiful Lizan (second from left) showing off the modified boat used by the smugglers accompanied by MMEA servicemen during a press conference in Tanjung Gabang, Selangor. — Bernama
SEREMBAN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has foiled an attempt to smuggle 4.8 million clove cigarettes of various brands into the country, says its acting director-general Rear Admiral (M) Datuk Saiful Lizan Ibrahim.
Saiful Lizan said his officers also seized a six 200hp engine “bot pancung” (modified boat) during the operation codenamed Ops Pagar Laut in Tanjung Gabang waters, off Selangor, at around 10.20pm on Tuesday.
The seized cigarettes and boat were valued at least RM3.5mil.
“We swung into action following surveillance and upon detection of a suspicious vessel – that had entered a route that we call the Traffic Separation Scheme – through our Maritime Sea Surveillance System or Swasla radar.
“When the smugglers realised our presence, they sped off,” he said.
Saiful Lizan, who is MMEA deputy director-general (logistics), said his officers gave chase for about half an hour, forcing the smugglers to enter a mangrove area.
However, when the team got closer to the boat near the Tanjung Gabang estuary, they discovered that it had been abandoned.
“The tekong or skipper and his four or five workers jumped into the sea and escaped.
“The boat, powered by six Yamaha engines, does not have a registration number,” he said.
He said the cigarettes, believed to have been brought in from a neighbouring country, were to be sold illegally here.
The case would be investigated under the Customs Act, he added.
Saiful Lizan said the MMEA would continue to patrol along the country’s waters to deter criminal activities such as smuggling of contraband and controlled goods, and the entry of illegal immigrants.
“We have been carrying out more patrols in hotspot areas following the upcoming festive season.
“We hope the public can also be our eyes and ears and provide us with information to help combat cross-border criminal activities,” he said, adding that the public could call the MERS 999 hotline with any relevant information throughout the day.
Separately, the MMEA said it had destroyed 249.3kg of methamphetamine and methylenedioxyamphetamine ecstasy pills seized during an operation codenamed Ops Pertiwi in Pulau Betong, Penang, in December 2020.
The drugs, worth some RM10.5mil, were incinerated at the Kualiti Alam integrated hazardous waste management centre.
“The process was carried out in a controlled manner by complying with safety procedures to ensure it does not affect human and animal health or harm the environment,” it said.
