BINTULU: Three tugboats and three barges suspected of transferring taxable goods at sea with expired authorisation documents, were detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) here on Thursday (Feb 10).
Bintulu Maritime Zone director Maritime Captain Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad said the vessels were detained by KM Renggis that spotted the activity about 3.5 nautical miles from Sungai Kemena estuary around 7pm.
“During an operation codenamed Ops Permai in Bintulu waters, our boat spotted the tugboats and barges transferring loads of taxable goods believed to be logs, from a ship from Papua New Guinea around 6.30pm
“We detained them for inspection and found that all the tugboats and barges were transferring taxable goods at sea using expired authorisation documents and they failed to produce their Domestic Shipping Licences (DSLs).
“All 16 crew members including the three captains, aged between 21 and 55 years, comprising 11 locals, two Indonesians and three Indians, had relevant identity documents when examined,” he said.
Khairol pointed out that approximately 680 logs were found to have been transferred on the barges.
The crew, tugboats and barges were detained and escorted to the Bintulu Maritime Zone Vessel Detention Centre for further investigation.
The case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967 and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.
To date, MMEA Bintulu has made 11 arrests involving tugboats and barges in Bintulu waters.
Khairol added that the agency was taking the matter seriously and would closely monitor vessels in Bintulu waters so that they complied with the rules and regulations.
