SANDAKAN: The Marine police here seized 487 rugs worth RM7,675 from two wooden cargo boats in Pulau Berhala waters off here, yesterday.
Twenty crew members, including two skippers, were arrested for violating the transhipment standard operating procedure.
Prior to the arrest and seizure, district Marine police commanding officer Assistant Superintendant Mazre Che Mahmod said the boats were spotted docking near Pulau Berhala between 1.10pm to 2pm, by a patrol team.
“My men approached the crew members and upon inspection, they found one boat was loaded with 187 rugs while 300 rugs were on board the other boat.
“The goods were not registered among the items in the respective transhipment manifest,” he said.
Mazre added that the crew members were immediately taken to the Marine police base and detained pending further action.
He said the case would be referred to the Customs Department for further action under the Customs Act 1967.
