KUCHING: The Sarawak Marine Police Region 5 has made a significant seizure, confiscating 430,000 litres of diesel from a tanker vessel at the Sarawak River barrage last Saturday (Feb 10).
The operation codenamed ‘Ops Taring Gelora Khas’, led to the seizure around 3.45 pm when a patrol boat intercepted the vessel for inspection.
Sarawak Marine Police Region 5 commander ACP Abdul Rahman Mat Hassan said the team discovered the diesel inside the vessel’s oil storage tank.
“The skipper also failed to provide any valid documented evidence permitting the possession, storage, or transportation of the diesel.
“In addition, the team found that three out of four crew members, all foreigners, lacked valid passports and had misused their social visit passes to work on the tanker.
“As a result, the skipper and crewmen aged between 19 and 47, were arrested,” he said.
The tanker vessel, along with the confiscated diesel, has been handed over to the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs for further investigation.
Abdul Rahman said the total value of the seizure, including the tanker vessel, was RM10,505,000.
The case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and the Immigration Act 1959/63.
