LANGKAWI – The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Friday thwarted an attempt to smuggle 56.5kg of syabu worth RM11.3 million when officers intercepted a foreign fishing vessel 2.3 nautical miles northeast of Tg Kemarong near here.
First Maritime Admiral Mohd Zawawi Abdullah, commander of Kedah and Perlis MMEA, said the seizure is the agency’s biggest this year.
Adressing a press conference in Bukit Malut here today, he said the operation was conducted following monitoring by the Langkawi Malaysian Maritime Sea Monitoring System.
“Based on the information gathered, an MMEA lightning boat detected a Thai fishing vessel with two suspects on board... near Tg Kemarong.
“The fishing vessel tried several times to ram the lightning boat, which gave chase for 40 minutes. The two suspects then jumped overboard.
“MMEA personnel who boarded the fishing vessel found two black bags hidden under nets. The bags contained 51 Chinese tea packages wrapped in transparent plastic, (and were) filled with white crystals suspected to be syabu.”
He said investigations will be conducted under Section 39(B) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, and Sections 307 and 186 of the Penal Code.
“MMEA has mobilised a search for the two suspects. They have yet to be found due to rough sea conditions.” – Bernama, September 27, 2020
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