MIRI: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained 38 foreign fishermen and seized two fishing boats worth RM60,000 in Ops Bersatu at the Miri waters on Thursday afternoon.
Miri Maritime Director Maritime Captain Mohamad Fauzi Othman said the operation was conducted jointly with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department of Miri District and detained the two boats at around 3pm on suspicion of catching fish in a trawling device.
He said the Vietnamese fishermen, between the age of 14 and 48 years, were using two fishing boats with registration number One United 35 and One United 32.
“Based on inspection, both boats are registered as cargo boats where there is no authorisation to carry out fishing activities.
“The inspection also found 10 of the 38 crew members of the two boats had no identification documents,” he said in a statement here.
Mohamad Fauzi said all the fishermen were detained for further investigation.
“The case is investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 and the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952/1960,” he said.
