Photo: Bernama
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has recorded over RM7.3mil in seizures through its Ops Pagar Laut.
Acting MMEA director-general Rear Admiral (M) Datuk Saiful Lizan Ibrahim said the seizures were confiscated from 18 cases, which were detected through the operations between April 9 and 17.
He said 16 illegal immigrants were detained in six of the cases.
"The rest, three involved in the smuggling of contraband cigarettes, three others on the invasion of foreign fishing boats, one on cooking oil smuggling and five cases related to the Merchant Shipping Ordinance.
"The successes are the result of patrolling activities and enforcement routines carried out by 800 officers and personnel, with the use of 45 assets belonging to the agency," he said in a statement on Tuesday (April 18).
Saiful Lizan, who also went on an aerial survey around Selangor waters on Tuesday in conjunction with the operation mission, said MMEA had beefed up its monitoring and operations activities within Malaysian waters, especially along the borders with Thailand and Indonesian.
Apart from its own intelligence and information gathered from the Malaysian Maritime Sea Surveillance System (Swasla) radar, he said public tip-offs have also contributed to the success of this operation.
In order to maintain the momentum of the achievement of this operation, he called on the public to continue helping the agency in battling crime in Malaysian waters by serving as its eyes and ears.
Those with information related to illegal maritime activities can contact the Maritime Operations Centre at 03-8943 4001 or the Malaysian Emergency Response Services (MERS) at 999.
