Marine police showing the seized petrol.
LAHAD DATU: The marine police here thwarted an attempt to smuggle out 1,260 litres of subsidized petrol to a neighbouring country through Sahabat 16 waters on Saturday night.
Sabah Region 4 Marine Police deputy commander Superintendent Rosman Ismail said that they had also arrested the boat skipper and his crew, aged between 30 and 42 years old, who were not in possession of any valid identification documents.
Rosman said the boat was detained by a marine police team while patrolling in the area about 7.40 pm.
“While on their patrol, the team tracked a boat that was heading towards the waters of a neighbouring country. They pursued the boat after it tried to flee upon noticing the presence of the marine police,” he said.
When they inspected the boat, the team found 1,260 litres of petrol inside 42 plastic canisters which they believed were about to be smuggled out to a neighbouring country,” he said, adding that they also seized the boat.
Rosman said the estimated worth of the seizure was about RM8,646, including the boat.
The case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and handed over to the Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry for further action.