KUALA LUMPUR: Seven states have been identified as hot spots for the smuggling of diesel, petrol and other controlled goods due to their geographical location.
These are Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis and Johor.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency director-general Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said, based on arrest trends and geographical analysis, the areas most exposed to smuggling were states located near the maritime borders of neighbouring countries Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines or with many river routes.
"For Sabah and Sarawak, the goods smuggled out are diesel, petrol, cooking oil and other controlled goods, where the level of risk is very high as the areas have very long coastlines, many islands and are close to the sea borders of the Philippines and Indonesia.
"Kelantan and Terengganu are at high risk of diesel smuggling due to Kelantan's geographical location in the South China Sea, which is close to the maritime borders of Thailand and Vietnam.
"Syndicates mostly use foreign fishing boats as their modus operandi and the activity is carried out outside territorial waters," he told Harian Metro.
Rosli said Kedah and Perlis were also at high risk as their waters bordered southern Thailand, which allowed smugglers' boats to move quickly.
The goods smuggled there were petrol and controlled goods.
"Johor is at moderately high risk, with diesel smuggling taking place because it is close to the international waters of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, making it a hotspot for illegal oil transfer activities," he said.
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