KUDAT: The district Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) succeeded in intercepting a foreigner attempting to smuggle petrol out of the country by boat, in waters near here on Saturday.
The skipper, a 67-year-old Filipino, was detained after found transporting 71 barrels containing 2,130 litres of fuel under Ops Pluto Timor.
The MMEA tracked the suspicious vessel at around 12.45am, about 0.6 nautical miles from Tanjung Berungus here.
"The boat was stopped and boarded at 1.04am and based on an inspection, the skipper was found without any valid document and 71 30-litre barrels of petrol in the boat without a permit from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK)," MMEA Kudat said in a statement.
All seized items, including the boat and its 40 horsepower engine, are estimated to be worth RM18,920.
The skipper will be investigated under Section 6 (1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for entering/living in Malaysia without a valid pass; and under the Ports and Harbours Enactment (Sabah Licensed Small Ships 2008) for handling a vessel without proper license.
He was also charged under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 for carrying controlled goods without permission from the KPDNKK.
The skipper and the items were brought to the Kudat public jetty and handed over to the Kudat maritime investigations unit.