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Malaysia has seized two oil tankers suspected of carrying out an illegal ship-to-ship transfer involving crude oil valued at about $129 million, maritime authorities said on Saturday.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said the vessels were intercepted on Thursday while anchored off the northern coast near the port of Penang, following intelligence reports of suspicious activity in the area.
According to Penang’s maritime director, Muhammad Suffi Mohd Ramli, officers who boarded the ships found them positioned side by side, an arrangement that raised concerns about an unauthorised crude transfer.
He said preliminary checks showed the tankers were filled with crude oil worth more than 512 million ringgit.
Both vessels were subsequently seized, and their captains handed over to investigators for further action, he hinted.
Authorities did not immediately disclose the names of the tankers or their ports of origin. However, Muhammad Suffi said the crews comprised 53 foreign nationals from China, Myanmar, Iran, Pakistan, and India.
Malaysia has faced growing scrutiny in recent years over illicit oil transfers in its waters, particularly those linked to sanctions evasion.
The government pledged last year to intensify enforcement and clamp down on illegal maritime activities within its jurisdiction.
