KANGAR: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has foiled an attempt to smuggle 8,000 litres of diesel worth some RM16,000 following the arrest of four fishermen in waters off Kuala Perlis yesterday.
Kuala Perlis MMEA Maritime Zone director Mohd Hashim Mat Zain said an MMEA patrol spotted a Class C fishing boat passing through the waters at 5.23am, about 2.3 nautical miles west of Kuala Perlis towards the Malaysian-Thailand maritime border.
"The boat was operated by a local skipper and three crew members, two of whom were Thai nationals aged 39 and 46.
"When we inspected the boat, we discovered that the vessel had been modified to add an oil tank.
"Besides the diesel, we also seized the boat and an engine. The total amount of the seizure is about RM 216,000," he said in a statement.
Hashim said the raid was based on information from the Kuala Perlis MMEA's Intelligence Unit for the past weeks.
The case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 for modifying an additional fuel tank without permission and violating the conditions of the licence, the Supply Control Act 1961 for attempting to smuggle out subsidised diesel and Section 239 of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act 1988 for the use and possession of unauthorised communication devices.