KOTA KINABALU: Marine police have foiled an attempt to smuggle out some 3.06 tonnes of subsidised cooking oil in Sabah's east coast Semporna district.
Personnel from the Marine Police Region Four spotted a boat in a mangrove area while patrolling Tobo-Tobo waters under Ops Taring Gelora at about 5pm on Saturday (May 6).
There were four men in the boat and after a check, police found 90 sacks filled with 3,060 packets of 1kg cooking oil.
The four men were all Filipinos aged between 22 and 30.
Police subsequently arrested them and seized the cooking oil and the boat, valued at an estimated total of over RM43,000.
Sabah Region Four Marine Police commander Asst Comm Ahmad Ariffin confirmed the arrest and seizures when contacted on Sunday (May 7).
He said the men and the seized items have been handed over to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry district office for the next course of action.
