The Marine Operations Force (MOF) in Tawau foiled an attempt to smuggle in about 2,340 kilograms of live crabs into Sabah through the Tawau waters, early yesterday morning.

MOF Sabah Regional commander ACP Mohamad Madun said all the crabs were seized during the ‘Ops Paradise’ in the waters off Batu 3, Jalan Apas between 3.30am to 5am.

“MOF personnel carrying out their daily routine came across three speedboats from a neighbouring country (Indonesia) heading for the coast. Upon checking, the skippers of the three speedboats failed to show the import documents on the live crabs in the 130 boxes from their country (Indonesia),” he said in a statement in Tawau today.

He added that following the seizure, the Tawau MOF detained seven men aged between 17 to 35 for failing to furnish their self identification documents.

Mohamad said the seized items, including the three speed boats and their engines, were estimated to be worth RM363,000 and the case was being investigated under the Fisheries and Immigration Acts.

- Bernama