KOTA KINABALU: Marine police foiled an attempt by a local man to smuggle subsidised cooking gas cylinders to a neighbouring country.
A 23-year-old man, who is believed to be the owner of the speedboat loaded with the gas cylinders, was arrested at the Tawau port area at about 3.30pm on Wednesday (Jan 1).
Marine police Region 4 Commander Asst Comm Nazri Ibrahim said on checking the documentation, the suspect did not have any permit issued by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry for the subsidised gas tanks.
"We found 35 gas cylinders covered with canvas. We believe it was to be smuggled out to a neighbouring country," he said in a statement Thursday (Jan 2).
Police seized the speedboat and gas tanks with an estimated value of RM39,250.
ACP Nazri also advised the public not to get involved in smuggling activities to avoid actions under the law.
Tawau sits close to the Nunukan area of the Indonesian province of Kalimantan. The smuggling of subsidised gas cylinders has sometimes led to shortages in the Sabah east coast district of Tawau.
