KUALA LUMPUR: Seven states have been identified as hot spots for the smuggling of diesel, petrol and other controlled goods due to their geographical location.

These are Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis and Johor.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency director-general Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said, based on arrest trends and geographical analysis, the areas most exposed to smuggling were states located near the maritime borders of neighbouring countries Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines or with many river routes.

"For Sabah and Sarawak, the goods smuggled out are diesel, petrol, cooking oil and other controlled goods, where the level of risk is very high as the areas have very long coastlines, many islands and are close to the sea borders of the Philippines and Indonesia.