JOHOR BARU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detected more attempts by smugglers to encroach into the country's waters since April.
Its director-general, Admiral Maritime Datuk Mohd Zubil Mat Som, said the activities were detected between 8pm and 4am daily.
"After the reopening of the country's economy, we detected an increase in attempts to encroach into the country's borders every night, yet the majority of them were foiled.
"Through the enforcement carried out, the majority of these attempts were either stopped or turned back," he said after a ceremony to receive three Rigid Hull Fender Boats (RHFB) at the Stulang Laut International Ferry terminal, here today.
He said the demand for manpower in certain sectors, including plantations and services, had led to increased encroachment attempts.
"The main targets of smugglers are the southern states -- Johor, Melaka and Negri Sembilan -- due to the short sea journey. However, we detected an attempt to come in through Penang recently," he said.
Zubil said from January to June 10, MMEA had seized more than RM55.8 million in assets from intruders.
He said during that period, 76,026 inspections and 442 arrests were made, including foreign fishing boats, people and goods smugglers, and ships anchoring without permission.
Zubil said the MMEA had received 27 RHFBs and would receive the remaining three by August, in a procurement worth RM46.5 million.
"The RHFBs will be used as interceptors after the Malaysian Maritime Surveillance System (Swasla) detects a smuggler's boat.
"When the Swasla system detects such boats, RHFB units will be sent to the location." -- Bernama