LAHAD DATU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) thwarted an attempt to smuggle 20 stolen timber logs off the coast of Kunak yesterday.
Lahad Datu MMEA director Commander Dzulfikhar Ali said a patrol boat conducting the Op Pluto Timur 2/2013 operation detected a suspicious red pump boat with no registration number about 0.7 nautical miles northeast off Kunak at 5.20am.
Upon initial inspection, the MMEA team discovered 20 timber logs tied to the side of the boat, which was operated by three Filipinos aged between 35 and 45.
Further checks on their documents revealed violations under the Immigration Act 1959/1963, as none of the suspects possessed valid identification documents.
They committed an offence under the Penal Code for possession of timber logs suspected to be stolen, he said.
"Based on initial questioning, the suspects allegedly stole the timber from a factory and planned to sell it on the local market.
"The pump boat and the timber logs, valued at over RM5,000, were seized and escorted to the Lahad Datu Maritime Zone Jetty, where they were handed over to maritime investigation officers for further action," he said in a statement.