LABUAN: The Labuan Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a tanker carrying diesel worth an estimated RM1 million around 2.7 nautical miles north of Kuraman Island last Friday (Nov 8).
Its director, Captain Izwanhadi Idros said the tanker was intercepted by an MMEA patrol boat at 2.35am during routine surveillance.
"The vessel was anchored with its lights off, raising suspicion.
"Upon boarding, we discovered that the tanker, which had departed from Miri, Sarawak, was carrying some 70,000 litres of diesel, believed to have been transferred via ship-to-ship operations," he said.
An inspection showed multiple regulatory violations, including breaches of the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952, and the Control of Supplies Act 1961, he told Bernama today.
The seven Indonesian crew members onboard, aged between 21 and 51, have been detained and are currently under investigation.
Izwanhadi called on the public to stay alert and report any suspicious maritime activity to the Labuan Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 087-427999 or the MMEA's 24-hour emergency hotline at 999 for immediate assistance.