Sandakan: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized a boat carrying about seven tonnes of crude palm oil at 0.5 nautical miles northwest of Ulu Sibuga here at 12.30 am yesterday. Its Sandakan Maritime Zone Director, Captain Muhamad Suhairy Hussain, said his team, conducting a special operation under Op Khas Pagar Laut, detected the suspicious boat before attempting to stop it for inspection.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, several individuals at the scene noticed the presence of the enforcement team and fled into the nearby mangrove forest. Upon inspection, it was found that the boat was carrying approximately seven tonnes of crude palm oil suspected to be without a valid permit from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

Muhamad Suhairy urged members of the public with any information related to the crime to contact the Sandakan Maritime Operations Centre at 089-229504 or the emergency line at 999 for immediate action.