Australia Hands Over Night Vision Equipment To MMEA To Boost Surveillance Capabilities

KOTA BHARU, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Australia has handed over night vision camera equipment to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) to strengthen its surveillance capabilities and enhance the detection of illegal activities in the country’s waters, particularly at night.

Royal Australian Navy Rear Admiral Brett Sonter said the equipment would help the MMEA identify suspicious activities carried out under the cover of darkness, when criminal syndicates believe they can evade maritime enforcement patrols.

He said the technology would provide the MMEA with additional capabilities to detect and counter maritime crimes, including human smuggling and other illegal activities.

“Criminals think they can get beyond the MMEA’s protective posture at night. This equipment will help them defeat those criminals,” he said at a media briefing held in conjunction with the closing ceremony of ‘Operation Redback 23’, a joint operation between the MMEA and the Australian Border Force (ABF), here today.

Sonter said the equipment handover reflected Australia’s continued commitment to strengthening maritime security cooperation with Malaysia.

He said the partnership also involved sustained engagement, operational cooperation, and efforts to combat maritime people smuggling and other forms of transnational crime.

He added that both countries remained committed to working together to protect their shared maritime domain and uphold the rule of law.

-- BERNAMA