2 overloaded sand dredgers seized off Penang

 The maritime enforcement agency says the seized vessels and their cargo have an estimated value of RM400 million.

Two sand dredgers were seized about 2.7 nautical miles off Pulau Rimau, seen in the background. (HundenvonPenang/Wikimedia Commons pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Two dredgers carrying sand loads exceeding the permitted limit have been seized off southern Penang island by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), who said the vessels and their cargo had an estimated value of RM400 million.

Penang MMEA director Suffi Ramli said the vessels were intercepted about 2.7 nautical miles southwest of Pulau Rimau, off the southeast coast of Penang island, Bernama reported.

Each vessel had a crew comprising five Indonesians and nine Chinese nationals, and both were captained by Indonesian nationals aged 28 and 31, he said in a statement today. Three crew members from each vessel were detained for further investigation.

The statement did not state where the vessels were bound.

Pulau Rimau is located in the waters south of Permatang Damar Laut and Penang airport, where reclamation works are going on for the creation of a 2,300-acre island to be called Silicon Island.

The reclamation, to be completed in 2030, is intended to serve as an extension of the Bayan Lepas free industrial zone and is expected to house a depot for the Penang LRT as well as industrial, commercial and residential property and leisure facilities. - FMT