KOTA TINGGI: The Johor Region 2 Marine Police successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle juvenile lobsters worth RM3.3mil during an operation in Tanjung Merak, Pengerang.
Acting Kota Tinggi district police chief DSP Mohd Syamsuri Mohamad said the operation, named “Ops Taring Gelora,” was carried out by the intelligence unit at noon on Saturday (Aug 31).
“The team intercepted a fibre boat suspected of being involved in juvenile lobster smuggling,” he said.
“Upon inspection, they found polystyrene boxes containing juvenile lobsters, believed to be en route to another country via an uncharted route,” he added on Sunday (Sept 1).
He said the smuggling operation was run by a syndicate supplying juvenile lobsters to both local and foreign markets.
“The team arrested a 49-year-old man and seized a fibre boat valued at RM80,000.
“They also confiscated a boat engine worth RM160,000 and 46 polystyrene boxes containing juvenile lobsters worth RM3.3mil,” he said, adding that the total value of the seized items is RM3.5mil.
The case is being investigated under Section 40 of the Fisheries Act 1985 for importing or exporting live fish without a permit or violating permit conditions.
The Johor Fisheries Department has taken over the case for further action.
