TAWAU: The marine police here detained a 44-year-old Filipino skipper and seized a barter trade boat that was laden with petrol, diesel, cooking gas cylinders and pump engines on Wednesday.
The barter trade boat detained by the marine police.
A marine personnel showing the drums of petrol and diesel that were seized.
Sabah Regional Commander ACP Mohamad Madun said the skipper was suspected of trying to smuggle out subsidized goods which is an offence under Section 135 of the Customs Act 1967.
Mohamad said that at about 7pm, a marine police carrying out “Op Paradise” in the area intecepted and checked the boat, and found 18,600 liters of petrol, 800 liters of diesel, 21 cooking gas cylinders and 20 pump engines.
He said the items listed in the customs form were different and the licence produced referred to a petrol and diesel wholesale company that was supposed to operate in Sandakan only.
Mohamad said the skipper also failed to produce a bank permit and a licence to export to the Philippines from the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism in Putrajaya.
“The activity is believed to be another malpractice tactic and smuggling involving barter trade boats with the cooperation of local companies,” he said, adding that the case would be handed over to the Customs Department for further action.