Asia/Pacific News
Malaysia Seizes Bunkers, Boats, Drugs, in Illegal Fuel Sales Raid
Six fishing boats and 140,000 litres of illegally purchased diesel were seized in an April 10 raid by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), local media reports.
Forty-two foreign fishermen were also rounded up in connection with the seizure, which took place near the Guntang Alpha Oil Rig, 213 kilometres (115 nautical miles) from Kuala Terengganu.
Two Thai boats were said to have contained 120,000 and 20,000 litres of diesel respectively.
The fuel and special equipment for transporting it are believed to have been obtained by foreign fishermen operating local boats in territorial waters, said MMEA Maritime District Nine (DM 9) Enforcement chief, First Admiral Xavier Thevandas.
DM9 officers also found a Beretta pistol and ammunition, S$54,000 (RM140,400) believed to be used for purchasing fuel, and 48 pills suspected to be methamphetamine hidden in the skipper's room.
"We did not find any fish landings in the boats, which was carrying nine Thais and four Cambodians," Thevandas said at a press conference on April 12.
The four other boats, of Vietnamese origin, were detained for trespassing Malaysia's territorial waters; 29 sailors, including four skippers, had no valid fishing permits or identification.
Thevandas said approximately 5.1 metric tonnes of marine products were seized and estimated to be worth over RM5 million.
All the detainees will be remanded for 14 days to facilitate investigations.
Last October MMEA detained a fishing boat and a cargo ship on suspicions that the two vessels were involved in the illegal sale and transfer of subsidized diesel.
