ESSCom nabs five illegals, seizes gas tanks
LAHAD DATU: The security forces led by Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) successfully thwarted two attempts to smuggle LPG gas cylinders to the neighbouring country that was masterminded by two local men off the Tanjung Batu waters on Sunday.
ESSCom Commander, DCP Dato’ Wan Abdul Bari Wab Abdul Khalid said in the 9.30am incident, the Marine Police Force patrol boat bumped into a suspicious boat in the area.
Inspection carried out found 20 gas cylinders suspected to be smuggled out to the neighboring country.
Two men aged 34 and 49 were detained after they failed to produce documents from the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism (KPDNKK) to transport the items under Section 7(4) of Control of Supplies Act, he said in a statement, yesterday.
In another two separated operations in Semporna and Kudat, Semporna Marine Police Force and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained two Filipinos and three Indonesians for fishing using fish bomb off the Tobo-Tobo waters and towing trawlers less than three nautical miles off the Tanjung Agong-Agong waters.
“Among the other offences are expired licence and showing a different registration licence.
“Also seized were one boat, two pump engines, one outboard engine, one unit of compressor, two goggles and other equipment worth RM10,575. All of them were detained under the Immigration Act and Fishery Act,” he said.
He said the success resulted from continuous efforts between ESSCom and other agencies including Police, Armed Forces and MMEA in preventing smuggling, cross border crime and other illegal activities.
Commenting on the kidnapping of three Filipinos in Pom-Pom Mataking, he said the incident would not weaken the spirit of ESSCom and security forces to continue to curb criminal activities.
He said the incident had further boosted their spirit to work harder.
“There are a lot of things that can be strengthened and upgraded to further stabilize the security control of national waters. The initiative of common patrols with the Indonesian and the Philippine being undertaken by the Malaysian Government needed to be accelerated to address the kidnapping and smuggling activities effectively.
“The operations that have been planned will be further strengthened including intensifying the role of the public and community leaders to assist ESSCom by not giving any shelter to the illegal immigrants in the State,” he added.