PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency has foiled an attempt by four Indonesians to smuggle in kretek (clove cigarettes) worth of more than RM800,000 ($345,000) into the country.

The agency said in a statement that a patrol boat in Tanjung Sepat waters near Sepang spotted a fishing boat and its crew acting in a suspicious manner at about 6am on Sunday.

The boat sped away on sighting the team but was soon over-taken by the high-powered patrol boat.

The four suspects onboard were detained and brought to the Teluk Nipah Fishermen Cooperative Jetty in Pulau Nipah.

"The four Indonesians could not produce any identification papers or documents for the cigarettes, which they were transporting in 148 sacks," the statement said.