ALOR GAJAH: Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs authorities here are investigating sugar smuggling activities following the seizure of a ton of sugar from an Indonesian barter-trading vessel off the Alor Gajah coast on Tuesday.
The incident was uncovered by marine police from Negeri Sembilan who found 20 fifty-kilo sacks of sugar hidden in the vessels hull when it was stopped three nautical miles off the Linggi coast at about 5.30pm following a tip off.
The boat’s 46-year-old pilot and three crew, aged between 22 and 39, were handed over to the domestic trade and consumer affairs authorities here for further investigations to determine where they got their sugar supply from.
Malacca Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs chief enforcement officer Abd. Hafidz A. Rahim said investigations would focus on the possibility of unscrupulous parties trying to dupe authorities here by earmarking the sugar for export.
The sugar was found packed in sacks of a local producer from Kedah with the words ‘For Export’.
However, sugar is a controlled item and authorities have stopped issuing permits for its export, he told he reporters this at the Marine Police base in Linggi Wednesday.
Besides being a controlled item, he said the cost of sugar, currently at RM1.45 per kilo, is subsidised by the government and this may be a reason for it being smuggled out by profiteers.
He added those involved in such illegal activities could face a fine of RM100,000, three years jail or both if convicted.
Barter-trading activities at the Linggi Barter Trade Port involves several Indonesian wooden vessels arriving here daily with bakau wood to trade for locally produced sundry goods.
Meanwhile, Abd Hafidz assured that there is sufficient sugar to meet demand in Malacca with authorities monitoring stock to ensure adequate supply.
To date, he said that 12 sugar wholesalers here have 81.285 tons of sugar in stock with another 18.34 tons of pre-packed sugar available at supermarkets and sundry shops here.
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