MMEA foils cigarettes smuggling attempt near Pengerang waters

TANJUNG SEDILI: The Tanjung Sedili Maritime Enforcement Agency foiled an attempt to smuggle in cigarettes worth RM5.3 million near Pengerang waters on Saturday.
Enforcement officers also managed to detain a vessel which was illegally anchored in Malaysian waters and 11 Indonesians aged between 28 and 46 years were detained.
Maritime Southern Region chief First Admiral Adon Shala said, they seized the cigarettes from the barter trade vessel, 'KM Karya Jaya III', at about 1.55am on Saturday.
He said the Maritime Patrol boat 'KILAT 21' with six crew members went into the waters after receiving information via the radar system at about 10pm on Friday.
"The crew spotted the vessel some 3.7 nautical miles, south of Tanjung Ayam, in the waters off Pengerang. They noticed someone unloading goods into two speed boats near the vessel. On spotting the maritime boat, they fled in the speed boats," he added.
On checking, he said, they found 58,100 cartons of contraband cigarettes bearing the "JM WHITE", "Luffman" and "RMX" brand names inside the vessel.
The case is being investigated under Section 135(1)(e) custom Act 1967 for smuggling goods.
Adon Shala said there would be illegal activities due to the festive season and urged members of the public to alert them at their hotline number 07-8916595 or through MERS 999.