GEORGE TOWN: The Marine Police seized a total of 8.5 tonnes of processed nipah leaves used as cigarette rolls (rokok daun) from a merchant ship near Weld Quay waters during a raid on Monday evening.
At about 5pm, the ship, manned by eight Indonesians, were caught entering the Malaysian waters to smuggle the nipah leaves worth RM60,000.
State marine police acting commander Superintendent Dimin Awang said that the vessel named ‘KM Rezeki Bersama’ was found berthed to unload the goods.
Checks by the authorities revealed the nipah leaf cigarettes placed inside gunny sacks covered with canvas.
He said the Indonesians could furnish relevant documents or import permit from the relevant authorities.
“They were believed to be waiting to sell the goods to their agent.
“The vessel sailed from Pengkalan Dodek, Indonesia and all of them, aged 30 to 55 years old were detained following the seizure,” he said in a press conference today.
Dimin said that the goods and ship worth a total of RM350,000 were seized.
The case is being investigated under Section 11(1) of Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Act 2011 which carries a maximum penalty of RM100,000 fine and six years’ jail.
For each of the subsequent offences, the offenders are liable to a maximum penalty of RM150,000 fine and seven-year imprisonment.
Dimin said in January this year alone, a total of 112 arrests were made compared to 62 cases in the same period last year.