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Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained two Vietnamese fishing boats Azam Baru 1 and Azam Baru 2 that were conducting illegal fishing in Malaysian waters near Tanjung Sedili, Kota Tinggi.

Two Vietnamese boats caught fishing in Malaysian waters 

KOTA TINGGI: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained two Vietnamese fishing boats and the 23 crewmen on suspicion of fishing illegally in Malaysian waters near here. MMEA Tanjung Sedili maritime director Capt Amran Daud said the boats were detained 22 nautical miles southeast of Tanjung Sedili, between 12.05pm and 12.30pm. He said the Vietnam-registered boats were carrying about four tonnes of fish and two tonnes of fish fertiliser, worth about RM450,000. “The boats, registered as Azam Baru 1 and Azam Baru 2, were crewed by the suspects, aged between 19 and 55. “It is a new way of evading the authorities by using Bahasa Malaysia names on their boats and flying the Malaysian flag,” he said.