Public tip-off leads MMEA Sarawak to seize two foreign boats, arrest 21 fishermen

0

MMEA enforcement personnel watch over the fishermen during the press conference.

KUCHING: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Sarawak has taken hold of two fishing boats suspected to have encroached into the Malaysian waters.

The operation on Friday, which was set up following public tip off, also saw the enforcement personnel arresting 21 crew members including the skipper on board the vessels.

The fishermen, said to be Vietnamese, are aged between 21 and 44.

According to MMEA Sarawak deputy operations director Hamiludin Che Awang, the boats were spotted 140 nautical miles off Kuching around 5.30pm on Friday.

“The seized items – the boats and five tonnes of fish – are estimated (to be worth) at RM3 million,” he told reporters during a press conference held at Tun Abang Salahuddin Maritime Complex jetty in Muara Tebas here.

The case is being investigated under Section 15 (1)(a) of Fisheries Act 1985 which upon conviction, provides a fine of RM1 million or two-year imprisonment to each skipper; and a RM100,000 fine or two-year imprisonment to each crew member.

The public can reach out to MMEA by calling 082-432544 or 999 – both lines are open 24 hours.