KOTA KINABALU: In a desperate bid to escape from the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), two smugglers, believed to be foreigners, risked their lives and limbs by jumping into the sea after setting ablaze their boat which was laden with 10 boxes of contraband cigarettes.
MMEA officer Captain Amir Azwa Mohd Alias said the incident happened when MMEA personnel were responding to a tip-off from the public of a smuggling activity near Kampung Bawang Jamal in Kudat on Jan 11.
“As our personnel approached the boat, the suspects immediately fled the scene, prompting our men to give chase. Realizing that they could not escape, the suspects jumped into the open sea after setting their boat on fire to destroy the evidence. Our personnel managed to put out the fire and recovered six of the 10 boxes,” he said.
The MMEA personnel managed to detain the suspects, in their 20s, for further investigation under Section 6 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, said Amir Azwa.
The recovered cigarettes have been handed over to the State Customs Department for investigation under Section 135 (1) (e) of the Customs Act 1967, he added.
Amir Azwa said MMEA would continue to monitor the waters around Sabah to prevent smuggling activities in the future.
He also thanked the public for giving their continuous cooperation to the agency.