MARINE POLICE DETAIN TWO MEN, SEIZE SMUGGLED PETROL, CIGARETTES

KOTA KINABALU, March 10 (Bernama) -- The Marine Police (PPM) arrested two men and seized smuggled petrol and cigarettes worth RM182,741.80 in three operations on the east coast of Sabah, yesterday.

In a statement, PPM Region 4 said that in Semporna, its operation team discovered 52 jerrycans containing 25 litres of petrol each, believed to be controlled goods, during a raid on a house on stilts in Kampung Halo.

The team also inspected a speedboat at the location and found eight additional jerrycans containing 30 litres of petrol each stored in the boat’s compartment.

“A foreign man was arrested after failing to produce valid documents for possessing the controlled goods, which are believed to have been intended for smuggling to a neighbouring country,” the statement said.

In a separate operation in Tawau, the team detained a local man who was driving a four-wheel-drive vehicle that had been spotted behaving suspiciously at a petrol station.

“During the inspection, seven jerrycans containing approximately 157 litres of petrol were found stored in the back of the vehicle.

“The driver was detained to assist in the investigation after failing to produce approval documents or permits to possess the controlled goods,” the statement added.

In Lahad Datu, a PPM team conducting surveillance in a fish market area spotted two men unloading black plastic bags suspected of containing cigarettes believed to have been smuggled from a neighbouring country.

“The two suspects fled the scene when approached by the authorities. Upon inspection, several black plastic bags were found to contain various types of untaxed cigarettes,” he said.

According to the statement, all the cases are being investigated under the Customs Act 1967 and the Control of Supplies Act 1961.

“PPM Region 4 Sabah is intensifying operations to curb illegal smuggling activities in Sabah waters and coastal areas,” the statement added.

-- BERNAMA