KOTA TINGGI: A total of 105 illegally-anchored vessels have been spotted in eastern Johor waters by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) during its 10-days Ops Jangkar Haram operation here.
MMEA deputy director-general (operations) Rear Admiral (Maritime) Kamaruszaman Abu Hassan said that 71 of the vessels were ordered to move out while 18 were detained.
"Only nine vessels had a permit to anchor at the area while the remaining seven are awaiting responses from the Marine Department.
"The 18 detained vessels were seized under Section 49B(1) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952 for anchoring without permission from the Marine Department which carries a fine not more than RM100,000, or imprisonment not more than two years, or both," he said during a press conference at the MMEA Sedili Maritime Base here on Wednesday (March 31).
He added that the 10-day operation involved 175 personnel, five MMEA vessels, four boats, two helicopters and two teams from the MMEA Special Task and Rescue Force (PTK).
It was earlier reported that the agency has launched the operation to crackdown on the dozens of vessels anchored illegally in Johor waters.
