The discovery comes amid reports this month that scavengers have targeted two British World War II wrecks off the coast of Malaysia – the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse – which were sunk by Japanese torpedoes on Dec 10, 1941, just three days after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbour in Hawaii.

Following reports of the illegal salvage activity, Britain’s National Museum of the Royal Navy last week said it was “distressed and concerned at the apparent vandalism for personal profit” of the two wrecks.

The defence ministry condemned “desecration” of maritime military graves, the BBC said on Saturday.

A ship registered in Fuzhou, China, and carrying 32 crew failed to present anchoring permits during a routine inspection in waters off Johor on Sunday, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) said.

Authorities found scrap metal and cannon shells on the ship upon further checks.

The shells could be linked to a separate seizure by police at a jetty in Johor last week of multiple unexploded World War II-era artillery.

Authorities believe the cannon shells may have been scavenged from the HMS Prince of Wales, the MMEA said, adding that it was working with Malaysia’s national heritage department and other agencies to identify the ammunition.