MIRI: The Maritime Enforcement Agency (MEA) has seized a fibre boat believed to be used for smuggling hundreds of cartons of untaxed cigarettes and alcoholic beverages during an early-morning operation off Kuala Lawas.
The seizure was carried out by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Maritim Malaysia, through its Miri Maritime Zone at about 1.40am following a routine patrol under Op PERMAI and Op TIRIS 3.0.
Miri Maritime Zone director Captain Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad said the patrol team detected a suspicious fibre boat about 0.6 nautical miles southeast of Kuala Lawas before moving in for inspection.
The blue fibre boat, which had no registration number and was found abandoned with no crew on board, was carrying a significant haul believed to be smuggled goods. Officers discovered 100 cartons of assorted alcoholic beverages and 475 cartons of white cigarettes, all suspected to be untaxed.
“The boat was clearly being used for illicit activities. The cargo is believed to have been smuggled into the country without customs duties,” Khairol Anuar said in a statement.
The case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967 for suspected smuggling of prohibited goods without tax payment.
The seized items, estimated to be worth nearly RM250,000, were taken to the Miri Maritime Zone Complex and handed over to investigating officers for further action.
Khairol Anuar said Maritim Malaysia would continue to intensify patrols and enforcement operations to curb smuggling and maritime crime, stressing that sustained vigilance was essential to safeguard national waters and maritime sovereignty.
