Malaysia Detains Two Illegal Oil Transfer Tankers
February 1, 2026
1:12 am
Malaysian authorities have detained two oil tankers suspected of carrying out an illegal crude oil transfer worth an estimated 129 million US dollars, as the country intensifies efforts to police its maritime waters.
The vessels were intercepted on January 29 north of the port of Penang after maritime officials received intelligence pointing to suspicious activity at sea. Authorities said the operation appeared to involve an unauthorized transfer of crude oil between the two ships.
In a statement released on January 31, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said patrol units discovered both tankers anchored closely together, a positioning that raised immediate …
