KANGAR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) arrested two men and seized 65.05 kilogrammes of compressed cannabis slabs worth RM455,000 after intercepting a fibreglass boat in the waters off Kuala Perlis last night.
Kedah and Perlis MMEA Operations deputy director, Maritime Captain Zainudin Mohd Zuki, said the two men, aged 34 and 39, were detained with the drugs at about 11.40 pm, 1.5 nautical miles west of Kurung Tengar.
He said MMEA personnel from the Kuala Perlis Maritime Zone Headquarters intercepted the boat during routine patrols after receiving intelligence about suspected drug smuggling.
"The fibreglass boat was suspected of travelling from the Thai border towards Malaysia. The vessel was spotted moving at high speed and tried to flee, ignoring orders to stop for checks," he told a press conference at the MMEA Kuala Perlis Maritime Zone Headquarters near here today.
He added that the suspects' boat tried to ram the agency's patrol boat, forcing personnel to fire warning shots before stopping the vessel near Kurung Tengar beach.
A search of the boat found two local men and three sacks containing 60 compressed slabs of suspected cannabis. The total value of the seizure, including the boat, an outboard engine and other equipment, was estimated at RM600,000.
"The two men have been remanded for six days starting today until Oct 14. The suspects, along with the boat and seized items, were brought to the Kuala Perlis Maritime Zone Detention Jetty for further action and investigation. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952," he said.
-- BERNAMA