BINTULU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Bintulu Zone detained 22 foreign fishermen aged between 23 and 55 in arrests made on April 22 and 23.
In addition, two vessels, equipments and catches estimated at RM2 million were also seized.
The first arrested were 11 Vietnamese crew members about 123 nautical miles from here while on April 23 the team detained 11 Thais about 79 nautical miles from Tanjung Kidurong.
MMEA Bintulu director Captain Shahref Steve Mac Queen Abdullah, in a press conference said all the arrests were made by his team who patrols in the waters off Bintulu.
“Both vessels are suspected of fooling the authorities by using fake registration numbers, disguising their boats as local fishing vessels and conducting illegal fishing around Bintulu waters.
“All crew members and their vessels were detained under the Fisheries Act 1985, Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,” he explained.
Members of the public who have complaints about maritime law violations can contact the MMEA Bintulu 24-hour hotline at 086-314254.
