KUANTAN, July 16 — The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) recorded RM2.29 billion in seizures and detained 516 individuals for various offences from January to June this year.
Its director-general Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said the achievement was the result of the agency’s continued commitment to safeguarding and enforcing the sovereignty of the nation’s waters.
The seizures included local boats valued at RM2.11 billion, followed by drugs (RM86.06 million), foreign fishing vessels (RM66 million), smuggled cigarettes (RM25.16 million), prawns (RM5.2 million), and diesel (RM3.33 million).
“MMEA will continue to intensify operations to ensure controlled and subsidised goods are not smuggled out of the country, as well as to curb attempts to evade taxes,” he told the media after the Santuni MADANI and Sahabat Maritim programmes at Pantai Rekreasi Balok today.
The programmes were held to engage coastal communities in raising awareness on maritime safety, while strengthening strategic cooperation between enforcement agencies and local communities.
Rosli added that the MMEA will also continue to strengthen maritime security, search-and-rescue operations, and maritime crime prevention.
It is also involved in Ops Tiris together with other enforcement agencies.
“One of the latest successes was the foiling of a cigarette smuggling attempt in Tawau, Sabah, on June 23, involving seized cigarettes and a vessel estimated to be worth RM64 million.
“Integrated operations like this will continue to be enhanced to ensure the nation’s waters remain safe and free from cross-border criminal activities,” he said.
