LABUAN: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) foiled an attempt to smuggle RM105,000 worth of contraband alcohol to Sabah in the wee hours of the morning, today.
Labuan MMEA director Captain Che Adnan Md Isa said the agency’s patrol team spotted a suspicious boat heading from the island towards Menumbok, Kuala Penyu – a coastal district in Sabah’s interior division.
“At 1.15am, the team detected the boat with two people on board in Menumbok waters and trailed it.
“After 10 minutes, the boat skipper noticed the presence of MMEA personnel and sped towards the Mempakul creek (near Menumbok),” he said in a statement.
Che Adnan said the two people on board abandoned their boat and fled to the nearby bushes.
MMEA enforcement personnel conducted an inspection on the boat and found it laden with contraband beer of various brands.
The team seized the beer and the boat with three engines for further investigation. The seizures were worth RM250,000.