MIRI: Two skippers and eight crew members in two foreign vessels were detained for operating illegally in Sarawak waters on Saturday (Oct 5).
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak director First Admiral Kamal Ariffin Jusoh said the vessels were intercepted approximately 132 nautical miles northwest of Tanjung Baram.
The estimated value of the vessels is RM4 million and authorities also seized 2,000 litres of diesel worth RM6,000.
“The arrest was carried out by the Miri Maritime Zone patrol vessel during a routine patrol. At around 10.18 am, our patrol detected the two vessels, likely engaged in illegal fishing activities,” Kamal told a press conference on Tuesday.
At approximately 10.55 am, the patrol vessel managed to dock one of the vessels and upon inspection, the vessel was confirmed to be foreign, likely from Vietnam, based on its registration and design. The first vessel, with five crew members aged between 48 and 66, was detained at 11.35 am.
A second vessel was detained shortly after, at 11.55 am, with another five crew members aged between 30 and 63. Both vessels were found without valid identification, and the crew was suspected of entering Malaysian waters and fishing illegally without notifying the Director of Fisheries Malaysia.
The case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 and the Immigration Act 1959/63. If convicted, the skipper could face a fine of up to RM1 million, while each crew member could be fined RM100,000 or face imprisonment of up to two years.
