BINTULU: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) personnel have so far this year seized RM2 million worth of catches, diesel and equipment belonging to Vietnamese fishing boats as of April 17 after thy were found encroaching into the country’s waters.
In a statement on Sunday Maritime Commander Bintulu Zone Commander Effendy Mohamed Fadil said that on April 8, enforcement personnel managed to detain a Vietnamese fishing boat with six crew on board with a catch value of RM500,000.
The latest arrest took place on Thursday, involving three Vietnamese foreign fishing boats with 32 crew on board, including three skippers aged between 24 and 55 years.
He said, the latest encroachment into the country’s waters was detected at 193 nautical miles north of Bintulu Port, around 1.30am.
He also revealed that they also seized marine catch, 2,000 liters of diesel supply and fishing equipment amounting to a total of RM1.5 million.
“The 32 crew failed to produce valid identity documents as well as boat licences,”said Effendy.
MMEA Bintulu operation centre can be contacted on (086-314 254) / Sarawak Maritime Operations Center (082-432544) which operates 24 hours or MERS 999.
