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22nd June, 2012
KUDAT: Police have foiled attempts by three foreigners to smuggle out several controlled items worth more than RM120,000.
The three illegal immigrants aged between 16 years old and 60 years old were detained by Marine Operations Force (MOF) in two separate operations codenamed “Ops Tango Papa” and “Ops Landai” off Jetty Angkasa Baru and Esplanade Sidek waters on June 18 & 21.
In the first incident at about 11am, the MOF team led by ASP Cyril Douglas saw two men behaving suspiciously in a fishing boat.
District Police Chief DSP Dawi Ossen when contacted by New Sabah Times said yesterday his men found the controlled goods in the boat and detained them on the spot.
Police found 2,825 litres of petrol in 113 containers, 1,054kg cooking oil, 150kg sugar, six gas cylinders and 215kg flour, among others.
The goods were estimated to worth RM78,857.70.
On June 21, the same MOF team detained the third foreigner after they found 3,000 litres of petrol in 120 containers and 2,040kg cooking oil worth some RM44,392 in a fishing boat at 12:30am.
To a question, Dawi said investigation showed all the goods were to be smuggled out to Pulau Palawan in the Philippines.
He said all the suspects were remanded under the Supply Act 1961 to facilitate further investigation.
“We are also considering prosecuting the suspects for illegal entry into the State,” he added.
Dawi commended members of the public for tipping off suspected smugglers attempted to smuggle controlled goods to a neighbouring country.
“We have detained scores suspected smugglers both local and foreigners with help from public over the years and I hope this cooperation will continue to minimise smuggling activities in Kudat waters,” said Dawi.
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