KUCHING: Malaysia Marine Police Force seized 20,000 litres of diesel worth over RM200,000 during a routine check of a fishing trawler in Bintawa here the other day.
Its Region 5 Commander ACP Kalai Chelvan Nadarajah said the trawler was stopped at a jetty near the Malaysia Fisheries Development Board (LKIM) during Ops Pensura after its crew failed to produce any document for the diesel they were carrying.
“A check by my men found the trawler was carrying roughly 20,000 litres of diesel worth an estimated RM204,000. The fuel was seized and the boat brought back to the marine police base in Bintawa for further action,” he said in a statement to the press yesterday.
He also revealed that the two foreign crew members onboard were detained after they were found without work permits.
The case has been handed over for further investigation to the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism as well as the Immigration Department.
Kalai said marine police hoped to work closely with the public and other government agencies to curb criminal activities.
