Maritime agency to combat diesel smuggling in Sarawak

KUCHING, June 27 — The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak and Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) will conduct operations to curb misappropriation of diesel starting next month.

Kuching Maritime District Enforcement Chief (DM11), Maritime Commander Hariani Mahmod said the MMEA will use three assets namely the Speed Boat, Lifeboat and ‘Boat Pengelang’, to help prevent abuse of subsidised diesel in the waters of the state.

“Last year MMEA made two arrests in connection with diesel misappropriation.

“However, this year MMEA has not conducted any operations to combat diesel smuggling because it has not received any complaints,” she said at a press conference in Tun Abang Salahuddin Maritime Complex (Komtas), Muara Tebas, today.

Meanwhile, Hariani said the MMEA DM11 collaboration with the Sarawak Forestry Department on June 24, had succeeded in detaining a barge carrying a load of 18 logs believed to be from illegal logging.

She said in the 2.45pm incident at the Sungai Loba, Semariang, three foreign crew members who were on the barge were also nabbed to facilitate investigations.

“As a result of intelligence, a barge carrying a cargo of 180 logs without the special sign of the Sarawak Forestry Department was detected in Sungai Loba, Semariang. The cargo is believed to have violated the Sarawak Forestry regulations 1973,” she said.

The case has been handed over to the Sarawak Forest Department for further investigations.

Elaborating on the joint operation with the Sarawak Forest Department, Hariani said since April 25, a total of five arrests had been made in combating illegal logging in the state.

“In this integrated operation two of the five arrests have been successfully prosecuted with an estimated forfeiture of 3,059 logs and the collection of revenue amounting to RM43,303.75. Three more cases are still under investigations,” she said.

Hariani said the joint operation involved three MMEA DM11 boats, 15 officers and six officials of the Sarawak Forestry Department. — Bernama