13/01/2008 (Daily Express News, East Malaysia), Sandakan - More than 250 kilos of cooking oil and 100 jerry cans of petrol have been discovered in a secret compartment of two trawlers by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) here.

The goods were recovered during a thorough check on the boats, Friday, five days after the MMEA detained six of its 16 crew for not having any identification documents and the boats brought to the MMEA jetty in Jalan Leila for further action.

According to District MMEA Operations Officer, Assoc. Lt Mohd Khair Baharom, they intercepted the trawlers that were heading towards the open sea at about 2.40am on Jan. 6.

Then on Jan. 11 at about 3.30pm, he led an MMEA team to scrutinise the trawlers and discovered the compartments hidden underneath baggage and heap of instant noodles.

Also recovered were more than 200kg flour, seven gallons of diesel and 11 cooking gas tanks believed to be smuggled into Pulau Taganak, Philippines.

The seized goods were referred to the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry for further action.

Locals and foreigners are not allowed to take cooking oil out of the country. If convicted, offenders will be fine RM100,000 of jailed for two years or both under the Control of Supplies Act 1961.

The Immigration and Customs Departments are collaborating to curb smuggling activities and end the cooking oil shortage crisis.

There is a high demand for cooking oil from Malaysia as it is cheap, high in quality, and halal certified, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affair Ministry Director-General of Enforcement, Mohd Roslan Mahayudin had said.

In Malaysia, 1kg of subsidised cooking oil costs RM2.50, but it could be worth up to RM5.80 in places like Thailand.