KOTA KINABALU: Nine Indonesian anglers were caught fishing in Malaysian waters off Tawau by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Sunday (Feb 9).
Tawau Maritime Zone director Maritime Captain Shahrizan Raman said they intercepted three boats during Ops Pluto Timur between 2.5 and 5.6 nautical miles north of Burst Point at around 1pm.
“The individuals, aged 28 to 52, had entered Malaysian waters without authorisation and lacked valid travel documents,” he said.
Authorities seized three fishing boats, three 15-horsepower outboard engines and marine catches valued at approximately RM20,000.
The individuals were handed over to the Indonesian Consulate for deportation under a 2012 Memorandum of Understanding between Malaysia and Indonesia on maritime enforcement guidelines.
After completing the documentation, the MMEA escorted the boats to the Malaysia-Indonesia maritime border.
The MMEA said it would continue strengthening enforcement operations against illegal fishing and maritime trespassing, particularly within the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Essszone).
The agency urged the public to report maritime crimes or emergencies in Tawau waters to the Tawau Maritime Zone Operations Centre at 089-752116 or the 999 emergency hotline.
