KEMAMAN: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has seized a Vietnamese trawler and detained 22 crew members, including a tekong, for encroaching into Malaysian waters to fish.
MMEA Kemaman base director Lieutenant Commander Maritime Muhamad Rezal Kamal Bashah said 1,200 kilogrammes (kg) of fish and 100 kg of dried squids were also seized in the 8.30am operation yesterday.
Rezal said the boat was spotted about 94 nautical miles from Kuala Kemaman and the Vietnamese detained were aged between 16 and 43.
"The boat was also carrying 800 litres of diesel and fishing gears worth RM700,000, which were also seized," he said.
He said further checks revealed that all of the crews did not possess valid travel documents nor do they have valid permit to fish in Malaysian waters.
“We received a tip-off from a local fisherman about the vessel and our men who were patrolling the area reacted to the information and caught the intruders red-handed.
“We are also not ruling out the fact that they might have purchased their catch from local fishermen,” he said, adding that a thorough investigation would be conducted.
The case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 and the Immigration Act 1959/63.