PORT KLANG: The attempt to smuggle firecrackers with a street value of minimum RM6,400 and above into Indonesia was foiled by the Port Klang marine police earlier today.
In an operation named ‘Op Pensura’ at 11am, Port Klang marine police intercepted the Indonesian registered barter trade boat near Bagan Hailam, off the waters Port Klang.
A total of 320 packets of firecrackers worth RM20 each and measuring eight feet were discovered in fish containers. The six men onboard the Cinta Damai 2 boat, had valid documents and was detained to facilitate investigations under Section 8 of the Explosive Act.
They are expected to be remanded tomorrow, said Port Klang marine police commanding officer Deputy Superintendent Ahmad Shafiki Hussin. Shafiki said his men had been trailing and monitoring the movement of the syndicate for a week.
“The boat was into its second hour of travelling and was about four to five nautical miles from the Port Klang waters. It was attempting to smuggle the firecrackers to Pani Papan in central Sumatera. Based on the haul it was carrying, the boat was estimated to arrive 14 hours after departing. We have yet to determine which jetty it had taken off from,” he said in a press conference at the marine police operations base in Pulau Indah.
Shafiki said the syndicate had been bring in items from Malaysia and from Indonesia. Among the haul on the boat were food items and used mattresses which was believed to be refurbished and sold in Pani Papan. Shafiki said there have been 187 cases recorded for Port Klang and the number was the highest in a 15-year period.
