Batu Pahat MMEA foils attempt to smuggle drugs

BATU PAHAT: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) thwarted an attempt to smuggle drugs to a neighbouring country in the waters of Sungai Nibong, about 10 nautical miles off Tanjung Tohor here yesterday.
An MMEA team seized syabu and ecstasy totalling one kilogramme and worth about RM300,000 from an abandoned fibreglass boat.
Earlier, the team which was patrolling the area spotted two men fleeing from the boat which was in the vicinity of a mangrove swamp in the 1.30am incident.
MMEA Southern Region Maritime Deputy Director (Operations), Maritime Capt Sanifah Yusof said the drug seizure comprised a slab of powder believed to be syabu and three packets of ecstasy.
"The drugs were found in a plastic packet containing Chinese tea packs which were wrapped in newspapers and hidden under a pile of fishing nets," he told reporters at the Batu Pahat MMEA Base, here today.
He said the boat and drugs were taken to the Batu Pahat MMEA Base jetty to facilitate investigations. — Bernama