KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 22 — The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained four Vietnamese fishermen and seized a vessel for encroaching into the country’s waters here on Wednesday.
Terengganu MMEA director Maritime Captain Mohd Khairulanuar Abd Majid said the boat was seized some 133 nautical miles off Kuala Terengganu at 12.30 pm.
“Also seized were 3.5 tonnes of marine catch, 2,000 litres of diesel and fishing equipment. The estimated value of the seized items is RM1.5 million.
“Our patrol team was conducting Op Naga Barat and spotted a suspicious boat engaged in fishing activities.
“Preliminary inspection found that checks found that all the foreign fishermen, including a skipper, aged between 29 and 61, did not have any valid identification document,” he said in a statement today.
Mohd Khairulanuar said that all crew members had undergone a Covid-19 screening test as a precautionary measure before being taken to the MMEA jetty for further action.
The case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 and the Immigration Act 1959/63.
— Bernam
