Tawau MMEA seizes 30 cylinders of cooking gas from passenger boat

TAWAU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has foiled an attempt by an Indonesia skipper to smuggle 30 cylinders of cooking gas in the waters of Tawau last night.
Tawau MMEA deputy director (operations) Cdr Mohd Yusri Hussin said MMEA personnel who were on a patrol under Ops Pluto Timur stopped a passenger boat waiting in a suspicious manner at about 8.30pm.
He said an inspection on the boat yielded 30 cylinders of cooking gas which were being smuggled to Indonesian waters.
Also held was a 31-year-old Indonesian skipper, he said in a statement here today.
According to him, the case was being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and the suspect was liable to be fined not more than RM1 million or jail not more three years or both upon conviction.
He said the overall value of seizure including the gas tanks and boat engine amounted to RM27,000.
Mohd Yusri said MMEA would step up patrol and enforcement in their areas to ensure criminals operating in Malaysian waters were eradicated. — Bernama