MIRI, March 5: A total of 1,125 metric tonnes of illegal logs were confiscated after the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) raided a barge operated by four Indonesian deckhands during a routine patrol.
Miri MMEA director, Capt Mohd Fauzi Othman, said they spotted a barge laden with logs being towed by a tugboat at around 7.40pm on Wednesday (March 4), located some 5.6 nautical mile, Southwest of Kuala Baram.
“It was found that all the logs, which weigh about 1,125 metric tonnes, do not have any legal port departure documentation. Four Indonesian who were the boat crew with expired passports, were arrested to facilitate investigations,” he said in a statement.
Mohd Fauzi added that the four suspects, aged between 27 and 57, were believed to have committed an offence under the Custom Act 1967 and the Immigration Act 1959.
“MMEA will continue to intensify its patrolling efforts in order to help curb crime activities in the country waters,” he said. — DayakDaily
