MIRI: A seagoing vessel found with 120,000 litres of diesel worth about RM300,000 were seized by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Miri zone on Monday afternoon.
The vessel was detained at 6.0 nautical miles from the Northwest of Kuala Baram around noon time.
A total of nine crew members including the skipper were all locals. Aged between 21 and 66, they were detained to assist in investigation under the Control Supplies Act 1961 for possessing and keeping subsidised diesel without a licence from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN).
MMEA Miri director Captain Mohd Shafie Paing in a statement said the vessel was being impounded for violating the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 and the Control Supply Regulations 1974 for not having any document under the Control Supplies Act (CSA).
He added, the diesel was also suspected of not having a Petroleum Development Act (PDA) Certificate, as well as carrying the amount of diesel permitted allowed.
All the crews and the vessel were escorted to MMEA Miri Zone Vessel Detention Centre (PTV)’s jetty for further investigation.
For any information regarding suspicious activities at sea, the public can contact the Miri Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 085-418204 or the Sarawak State Maritime Operations Center at 082-432544 or MERS 999 which operates 24 hours.
