SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has seized a tanker for possessing, storing and transporting over 60,000 litres of diesel without a valid permit or special licence in state waters.

Its director Maritime Capt Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh said the vessel was detained at about 1.30pm on Thursday (July 3) during a routine patrol under Ops Ehsan, Ops Murni and Ops Tiris 3.0.

The seizure was made approximately one nautical mile (1.85km) west of Tanjung Harapan, Port Klang.

He said initial inspections found that the vessel was manned by a 43-year-old captain with six crew members aged between 21 and 51, all Indonesian nationals with valid identification documents.

“A search of the vessel found an estimated 62,000 litres of diesel on board, and the captain failed to produce any documentation authorising possession of the controlled item. 

“A detention order was issued for the vessel. The captain and the second engineer were taken to the Marine Police Jetty in Pulau Indah for further investigation,” he said in a statement on Friday (July 4).

The case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 for failure to produce valid authorisation or a permit to possess, store and transport controlled goods from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry. – Bernama