Wednesday 30 April 2008

KK cops seize crude palm oil worth RM7mil

Tuesday April 29, 2008 The Star Online, Malaysia

KK cops seize crude palm oil worth RM7mil

KOTA KINABALU: Police foiled an attempt to smuggle some 1.8 million kilos of crude palm oil worth RM6.93mil into the state from neighbouring Indonesia.

A police team moved in at 11pm on Sunday as the palm oil was being transferred from a boat to a lorry at the Merbung jetty in Tungku, about 100km from Lahad Datu. More palm oil was found on board a fishing trawler.

Sabah marine police chief Asst Comm Abdul Manaf Othman said it was the first time that police had intercepted a consignment of palm oil being illegally brought in.

Apart from the boat and trawler, police also seized three lorries, and three four-wheel drive vehicles believed to be used to transport the crude palm oil to processing factories in the Tungku area, he added.

Police also arrested 13 people aged between 25 and 45 years, including the crew of the two vessels.