KOTA KINABALU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A routine check by marine police on two fishing vessels near Sandakan led to the seizure of about RM421,000 (S$135,580) worth of petrol and other controlled goods meant to be smuggled out of the country.

Sabah Marine Police commander ACP Mohd Yazib Abd Aziz said police stopped the two fishing trawlers in waters off Pulau Berhala near Sandakan at about 5.30pm on Saturday (Oct 7).

A search found the controlled items kept in the front and rear storage compartments on the two vessels, ACP Mohd Yazib said.

He said two drums containing 400 litres of RON 95 petrol, 60 jerry cans containing 1,800 litres of RON 95 petrol, 36 cooking gas cylinders and 391 packets of cooking oil valued at RM 11,170.50 were seized.

Four people were arrested along with the captains of the fishing trawlers. They comprised two Filipinos, aged 47 and 63, and two locals aged 57 and 32.

ACP Mohd Yazib said the cases would be referred to the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism's Sandakan office for further action under the Control of Supplies Act 1961.