ALOR GAJAH: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) of Melaka and Negri Sembilan foiled an attempt to smuggle 20,000 cartons of cigarettes worth RM800,000, off the coast of Pengkalan Balak, Masjid Tanah, last Friday.
However, six foreign nationals, who were on a fibreglass boat, managed to escape to the shore in the 4.20am incident.
MMEA DM5 director, Maritime Captain Amran Daud, said that prior to the seizure, a team of four MMEA officers were conducting a routine patrol when they spotted a vessel coming from the direction of a neighbouring country.
The officers suspected the boat of carrying contraband and gave chase. After a 20-minute pursuit, the vessel rammed into the MMEA patrol boat.
“The aggressive act forced our men to fire off two warning shots.
“However, the suspects did not let up their attack, which then forced the officers to let off 38 shots in the direction of the vessel’s engine. The six suspects then dove into the water and swam to the Pantai Pengkalan Balak beach before escaping,” he told a press conference.
Amran said his men found several large boxes wrapped in black plastic within the fibreglass boat.
In total, they recovered 400 large boxes containing 20,000 cartons of Canyon cigarettes, before towing the boat to the DM5 jetty for further investigation.
“The total seizure is estimated to be worth RM950,000. The case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967,” he said.