The Labuan Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has foiled an attempt to smuggle beer with unpaid duty valued at RM125,000 into Sabah, its biggest seizure so far this year.

Its chief, Capt (Maritime) Che Adnan Md Isa, said the agency officers spotted the lorry suspected to be carrying the beer on a ferry travelling from Labuan to Menumbok at 5.30 pm yesterday.

"Acting on a public tip-off, we immediately tailed the ferry for almost an hour before intercepting it at about 6.44 pm about 5.6 nautical miles off Labuan and found the beer hidden under gunny sacks containing shredded wood.

"We ordered the captain to return to the Labuan ferry terminal and immediately detained the driver and seized the lorry, believed to be worth more than RM70,000, at about 10.10 pm.

Che Adnan said the 31-year-old driver had allegedly told the MMEA officers that he was on his way to Kota Kinabalu but failed to give a satisfactory explanation as to where he was to have delivered the beer.

-- BERNAMA