KEMAMAN: A ruse by two Thai boats, attempting to smuggle out subsidised diesel by disguising themselves by displaying Malaysian flags, did not hold water. Alert Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency officers did not fall for the trick and seized a total of RM3 million ‘catch’, inclusive of the boats, Singapore currency and 30,400 litres of diesel worth RM96,000.
MMEA Kemaman base director Lt Commander (Maritime) Mohd Marmizi Md Noor said the Rungchana 18 and Wuttcichainavee, both with a crew of 13 aged between 19 and 50, were detained off Kuala Kemaman at 3pm and 4pm, respectively, on Tuesday. None of the detained crew had valid travel documents. “Our enforcement boats conducting Ops Perkasa Timur picked up the movement of the two boats within the country’s exclusive economic zone (of 200 nautical miles). “We identified ourselves and boarded both boats for inspection, only to find they were foreign vessels. “Wuttcichainavee attempted to flee when approached but was stopped after a two nautical miles chase about 156km offshore.
“It was found to be carrying 400 litres of subsidised diesel along with $12,350 in Singapore currency. “Another of our boats intercepted Rungchana 18 about 152 nautical miles offshore and found 30,000 litres of subsidised diesel and Singapore $10,000 on board,” said Marmizi.
He said investigations revealed that the two Thai boats had obtained their diesel supply from local fishermen and supply ships plying the oil rigs in the area, and were attempting to smuggle their cargo to Thailand. Those detained were remanded to facilitate investigation under the Fisheries Act 1985, Supply Control Act 1961 and Merchant Ship Act 1952.
