KOTA KINABALU: An attempt to smuggle 2,400kg of dried anchovies to a neighbouring country was crippled by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Thursday.
Sandakan MMEA zone director maritime captain Muhamad Suhairy Hussain said that their patrol boat intercepted the suspicious boat during an operation at 1.5 nautical miles north of Pulau Berhala, off Sandakan waters, at 9.40am.
“Upon inspection, the boat, which is equipped with 30 and 40-horsepower outboard engines, was registered under a fishing licence, and was manned by a 57-year-old male skipper who holds a permanent resident identification card (MyPR),” he said.
Further checks found that the man had 30 sacks of dried anchovies, estimated to weigh about 2,400kg, on the boat and had intended to smuggle the goods to Pulau Taganak in the Philippines.
All seized items comprising the dried anchovies, outboard engines and boat, estimated at RM29,000, were brought to the Sandakan Maritime Zone Jetty and handed over to the investigating officer.
Muhamad Suhairy said the case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967 for attempting to smuggle out control items without authorisation and under the Sabah Ports and Harbours Enactment 2002 for violating licence conditions.
He urged the public to notify the MMEA should they know of any criminal activities or misconduct at 089-229504 or call the emergency line NG999 for immediate action.
