KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) confiscated a tug boat and a barge during an operation in Marudu Bay on Wednesday.
MMEA First Admiral Mohd Taha Ibrahim said yesterday investigation by MMEA personnel on both the boat and barge revealed that numerous offences had been committed such as no valid licences and permits, no safety equipment in both vessels and transporting acacia logs without any declaration forms or permits from the Customs Department.
Mohd Taha said one of the four crewmen had an expired passport and work permit while the nationality of another crewman could not be identified.
The case would be investigated under the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, Customs Act 1967, Immigration Act 1959/63 and National Forestry Act 1984 (Act 313), he added.
Mohd Taha thanked the public for providing a valuable information to MMEA and looked forward to such cooperation in the future.