Maritime authorities foil bid to smuggle 7 tonnes of rice in Tawau

New Straits Times

25-06-2025

TAWAU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) foiled a smuggling bid involving about seven tonnes of rice and other controlled items when a cargo boat was intercepted in local waters early yesterday morning.
The boat was detected during Ops Pluto Timur, Ops Sejahtera, and Ops Tiris about 0.75 nautical miles south of Kuala Sungai Tawau, as it travelled from Batu Tiga towards Pulau Sebatik at 4.20am.
Tawau Maritime Zone director, Captain Maritim Ariffin Ghazali, said initial checks revealed the vessel was operated by a 20-year-old Sabahan in possession of questionable identification documents.
Also onboard was a 25-year-old Indonesian man holding a passport but without a valid work permit.
"Preliminary investigations found the boat operator failed to produce permits for transporting controlled goods or customs declaration documents for the cargo intended for Pulau Sebatik," he said in a statement today.
Further inspection uncovered 700 sacks of rice weighing a total of 7,000kg and 30 boxes of cooking oil packets weighing 510kg stored in the cargo hold.
Ariffin said the total value of the seized items, including the boat and engine, was about RM300,000. Authorities believe the goods were intended for sale in a neighbouring country.
Both suspects have been detained for further investigation under the Supply Control Act 1961, Control of Padi and Rice Act 1994, Customs Act 1967, Immigration Act 1959/63, and the Sabah Ports and Harbours Department Enactment 2002.
"Investigations are also looking into possible cross-border smuggling activities, following the circulation of several viral video clips showing Malaysian goods being seized by foreign enforcement agencies," he added.