MMEA detains Vietnamese fishing boat in Miri waters, seizes haul worth RM1.5 mln

The illegal Vietnam fishing vessel that encroached in Sarawak waters near Tanjug Baram.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Oct 12: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized a haul worth RM1.5 million from an illegal Vietnam fishing vessel in Miri.

MMEA Miri Zone director Captain Mohd Khairol Anuar Saad, in a statement today, said the fishing vessel was stopped by an enforcement officer during their operation at about 174 nautical miles from Tanjung Baran on Oct 11.

“The illegal fishing vessel did not cooperate and tried to escape when ordered to stop, which forced MMEA vessels to quickly intercept and forcefully board the vessel to stop them,” he said.

Mohd Khairol said there were four crew members onboard, including a skipper, aged between 35 and 55.

He said they are believed to be Vietnamese nationals based on the speech used, and all of them do not have identification documents.

“All the crew members were later brought to MMEA Miri Zone for further action. The case is investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985,” he said. — DayakDaily