Vietnamese vessel detained for encroaching Malaysian waters

The seized vessel that tried to use registration numbers of local boats.

LABUAN: The marine police here nabbed a Vietnamese vessel for trespassing and illegally fishing in Malaysian waters on Saturday (Aug 10).

The foreign fishing vessel was intercepted and inspected by four marine policemen who were carrying out an operation codenamed Op Gelora (Op Naga Timur) at about 11am, some 15 nautical miles from Tanjong Kubong here.

Sabah Marine Police chief Asst Comm Mohamad Pajeri Ali said the crew members on the vessel comprised five Vietnamese men aged between 27 and 41.

"They tried to deceive the authorities by using registration numbers of local fishing boats.

"They trespassed into Sabah's waters and robbed Malaysia of its resources for the purpose of exporting them to other countries.

"However, the Labuan marine police team has been monitoring their movements before successfully arresting them, " he added.

ACP Mohamad Pajeri said the vessel and its equipment amounting to RM462, 500 were seized and brought to the Labuan marine police base.

The crew members were handed over to the Labuan Fisheries Department for further action.

The case is being investigated under Section 15(1)(a) of the Fisheries Act 1985 and Section 6(1)(c) Immigration Act 1959/63.