BINTANGOR: A sand mining ship worth approximately RM800,000 was seized and its four crew were apprehended for operating without a license and illegal digging at Sungai Sian Bintangor here on Saturday. A Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) spokesman said enforcement officers, led by Assistant Superintendent Muhammad Sallam Spawi, were alerted to the ship’s presence at 5.30am. "Things looked suspicious, as they were digging sand early in the morning, which is against rules and regulations. “After boarding the ship, the crew was unable to produce a valid sand mining license and permit," said the spokesman in a statement. The enforcement team also confiscated two cranes worth RM250,000 and 150 tonnes of sand worth RM3,000 – with the total worth of items seized amounting to more than RM1 million.

Source: New Strait Times September 20, 2016 08:41 UTC