Penang MMEA director Suffi Ramli said a marine patrol boat made an inspection after a report was lodged at 10.45am on two tankers found anchored off Bagan Ajam, Bernama reported.

He said the oil tankers were suspected of conducting unauthorised ship-to-ship bunkering activities. Twenty-two crew members of various nationalities were also detained.

“An inspection by the MMEA patrol boat revealed that both tankers were suspected of carrying out bunkering activities without a permit.

“It was also found that the activity involved the transfer of Euro 5 diesel estimated at 700,000 litres, while the total amount of fuel seized was estimated to reach 800,000 litres,” he said in a statement today.

Suffi aid those detained comprised Malaysians, Russians, Filipinos, Indonesians and Myanmar nationals.

He said the Euro 5 diesel being smuggled had an estimated value of RM5.43 million, but the total value of the seizure, including the two oil tankers, was estimated at RM2.33 billion.

The case is being investigated under Section 491B (1)(k) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 for unauthorised ship-to-ship bunkering activities, and the Customs Act 1967 for failing to produce documents related to the bunkering activities and cargo declaration.