KOTA TINGGI: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has impounded three tankers for illegally transferring fuel in eastern Johor waters.

       Johor MMEA director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria said the tankers were impounded from noon to 7pm on Sunday (May 29), about 9.1 nautical miles (16.85km) east of Tanjung Siang near here.

       He said the tankers were detained in an operation involving the Tanjung Sedili Maritime Zone, an MMEA aircraft and seven MMEA Special Action Force personnel.

       “The impound had to be carried out through forced boarding by our Special Action Force, due to the stubbornness of the crew in not cooperating with us," First Adm Nurul Hizam said in a statement Monday (May 30).

       He said the tankers were registered in Singapore, Malabo and Monrovia with a total of 39 Indonesian, Singaporean and Russian crewmen aged between 24 and 62 years, all with valid documents.

       Nurul Hizam said the case is being investigated under Section 491B (1)(K) for illegally transferring fuel from ship to ship and under Section 491B (1)(L) for anchoring illegally.

       If found guilty, they could be fined up to RM100,000 or sentenced to two years' jail or both.

       “The captains of the three tankers are also being investigated under Section 186 of the Penal Code for voluntarily obstructing a public servant from carrying out his duties," he said.

       Nurul Hizam said if found guilty, they could be fined up to RM10,000 or sentenced to two years' jail or both.