By: Nurul Fazliana Norman
TAWAU: Oct 31, 2026 – An attempt to smuggle approximately 200,000 sticks of untaxed white cigarettes in the waters off Kampung Titingan here failed after the speedboat used by the suspect suffered engine failure while being pursued by a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) patrol boat three days ago.
Tawau Maritime Zone chief Maritime Captain Ariffin Ghazali said the boat was detected in darkness approximately 1.35 nautical miles southwest of Sungai Tawau, believed to be entering the country’s waters from a neighbouring country.
He said patrol members conducting OP SEJAHTERA, OP KHAS CEGAH PATI and OP TIRIS ordered the boat to stop for inspection.
“The boat’s skipper accelerated towards shallow waters to evade arrest. However, his boat broke down and he jumped into the sea before fleeing, leaving behind the boat and its cargo,” he said.
Dark weather conditions and shallow waters hampered efforts to track down the suspect.
An inspection found 20 large boxes containing approximately 200,000 sticks of white cigarettes valued at RM160,000 including tax.
The total value of the seizure involving the boat, engine and cargo is estimated at RM190,000.
All seized items were brought to the Tawau Zone Maritime Headquarters jetty before being handed over to the investigating officer.
The case is being investigated under the Customs Act 1967.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency reaffirmed its continued commitment to combating cross-border crime, particularly the smuggling of untaxed goods in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZONE).
Source: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
