The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Penang has uncovered a massive fuel smuggling operation, detaining two oil tankers and 22 multinational crew members in waters off Bagan Ajam yesterday morning.
Acting on intelligence received at 10:45 am, an integrated task force comprising MMEA and the Penang Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) dispatched a patrol vessel to investigate suspicious anchored vessels.
Inspection revealed both tankers were engaged in unauthorised ship-to-ship bunkering without permits. Authorities seized approximately 700,000 litres of Euro 5 diesel transferred between vessels, bringing the total fuel confiscation to 800,000 litres.
Among those detained were crew members of Malaysian, Myanmar, Russian, Philippine and Indonesian nationalities. The total seizure, including both vessels and the smuggled diesel, has been valued at an estimated RM2.33 billion.
Penang MMEA director Capt Muhammad Sufi Mohd Ramli confirmed the case is being investigated under Section 491B(1)(k) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 for illegal bunkering, as well as the Customs Act 1967 for documentation and cargo declaration offences.
Source: BERNAMA
