MIRI: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained two tugboats, 15 crew and a barge laden with plywood sheets some 2.3 nautical miles southwest of Kuala Baram near here.
Miri MMEA director Capt Mohd Shafie Paing said prior to the detention around 7.05pm last Sunday (Nov 6), the vessels looked suspicious, prompting MMEA to carry out further inspection.
“The tugboats failed to produce any valid document (allowing them) to conduct the activities…one of the tugboats had an expired Inland Shipping Licence (DSL) while the other had no valid sufferance wharf for the cargo from the Customs Department.”
Further inspection found that the tugboats were manned by 15 crew—one Malaysian, 11 Indonesians and three Indians—aged between 22 and 46.
Capt Mohd Shafie stated that the case was being investigated under the Customs Act 1967 and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
He also encouraged the maritime community to channel information and complaints about suspicious activities or emergencies at sea to Miri MMEA at 085-434055 or Sarawak MMEA at 082-432544 or MERS 999.
