KOTA TINGGI: Five Indonesians were detained after they allegedly attempted to steal scrap metal from a tugboat and a barge at 3.8 nautical miles south of Tanjung Penyusop, here, yesterday.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) deployed their enforcement officers after a report was lodged by the Johor Port Authority.
Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone acting director, commander Mohd Najib Sam, said the five men who were aboard a sampan, had boarded the Bongawan 9 tugboat and Hexagro 9 barge, which were transporting scrap metal from Labuan in Sabah, towards Port Klang in Selangor.
"The men, aged between 31 and 53, attempted to escape in the sampan upon seeing the enforcement officers, but were intercepted," he said
The suspects and the sampan were escorted to the Pengerang Maritime post jetty. However, the sampan had a leak and sank at 2.0 nautical miles southeast of Tanjung Bulat.
Najib said the modus operandi used by the thieves was similar to the previous nine successful MMEA interceptions since 2018.
The thieves target slow-moving barges and tugboats, stealing scrap metal, ropes or other accessible items.
The case is being investigated by police for theft while the Immigration Department will take action against the suspects for failing to produce valid travel documents in Malaysian waters.