Asia/Pacific News
Bunker Smuggling Thwarted, Authorities Say
Malaysian authorities report that they have stopped the smuggling of RM252 million ($81.5 million) worth of stolen fuel that was attempted to be sold to bunker operators, the New Strait Times reports.
The southern region Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) stopped the Indonesia-registered Bramani after an oil company reported that 70,000 metric tonnes (mt) of its fuel was stolen in Tanjung Agas, off Pekan, on February 10.
Authorities detained the captain and 25 crew members, all Indonesians.
Tanjung Sedili maritime enforcement chief Captain Rozali Md Said said the MMEA began searching for the vessel immediately after receiving the report, but bad weather hampered the efforts.
"On Saturday, we spotted the vessel and arrested the captain and 25 crew around 5pm at Tenggara Pulau Lima, Pengerang," he said.
"Initial investigations showed that the suspects were believed to have tried to sell the fuel to bunker operators in Johor, Singapore and Batam in Indonesia."
Earlier this month, the MMEA detained four ships for alleged illegal transfers of fuel, and in January the agency said it stopped a ship from smuggling RM3.6 million ($1.2 million) in diesel fuel.
