JOHOR BAHARU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) thwarted an attempt to smuggle contraband cigarettes near Kota Tinggi on Sunday.
The seized cigarettes, worth about RM4.4 million, which included taxes were found on board the ship, ‘AWE MARIN 9’, at 1.30pm.
Tanjung Sedili MMEA enforcement chief, Maritime Captain Amran Daud said four MMEA enforcement members spotted the ship at the 0.9 nautical miles, south east of Tanjung Ayam, in the waters off Pengerang.
Upon inspecting the vessel which was registered in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, the enforcement team seized 49,000 cartons of contraband cigarettes bearing the ‘JM WHITE’ brand.
In a statement yesterday, Amran said seven Indonesian crew, aged between 28 and 54, were detained to facilitate investigations. — Bernama