Attempt to smuggle sand into Singapore foiled

The Star 4 Dec 10;

PORT KLANG: The Selangor Customs managed to foil attempts to smuggle sand worth RM144,000 into Singapore by intercepting two barges and a ship.

Both sand consignments were being transported by the same company.

The department scored its first success on Nov 30 and the second on Dec 2.

Selangor Customs director Datuk Roslan Yusof said the department’s marine unit had on Nov 30 intercepted a ship and a barge transporting sand along in the Sungai Langat waters near Jugra, Banting.

Roslan said the substance was declared as mortar mix, however, upon examination it was sand.

The state has banned the export of sand.

He said that mortar mix could be exported without restriction while silica required an approved permit beginning Nov 1.

Roslan said the sand seized that day was valued at RM72,000,

The ship’s captain and seven crew members were brought in for questioning and could be charged soon as the offence was not compoundable.

Subsequently, Roslan said on Dec 2 at a private jetty in Carey Island, Banting another barge was detained.

The barge was transporting sand but its manifest showed it was transporting mortar mix. It was valued at RM72,000.

Roslan said a man who had come to the department on Thursday claiming to be the owner of both sand shipments had been detained for further questioning.