Breaking the law: Upon inspection, MMEA officials found that the vessel had breached fisheries licensing regulations.
KOTA KINABALU: Eleven people were arrested and more than 100kg of seafood, believed caught illegally, were seized in two operations from Sandakan to Kinabatangan by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
The agency’s zone director for Sandakan, Capt Maritime Muhamad Suhairy Hussain, said that in the first raid, officials noticed a vessel at around 8pm on Tuesday in waters off Tanjung Layar-Layar Sandakan.
Upon inspection, officials found that the vessel had breached fisheries licensing regulations.
Nine people including eight immigrants with dubious documents were nabbed,” he said in a statement.
He added that some 100kg of seafood, the vessel and other tools such as fish-attracting lamps were seized from this raid.
Muhamad Suhairy said among the suspected offences committed were fishing outside the permitted areas and using prohibited tools and methods to fish.
In the second operation, the same day, a tugboat was raided for operating in areas outside the permitted zone near Kinabatangan Kecil, he said.
“Two men including a non- citizen were on board and they were inspected as well in the 12.28pm operation,” he said, adding that there were also some fish and other catch confiscated.
Suhairy said both operations under Ops Khas Cegah Pati, Ops Pluto Timur and Ops Tiris were part of the MMEA’s ongoing operations against illegal fishing.
“These crimes included those fishing illegally without permits or outside permitted areas, and using prohibited tools and methods as well as offences under the Immigration Act,” he said.
All 11 suspects and seized items were brought back to the Sandakan Maritime Jetty for further investigation and action.
Muhamad Suhairy urged the public to continue working with maritime officials in their ongoing battle against crimes at sea.
Those who have any information to share or emergencies to report can contact the Sandakan maritime operations room at 089-229 504 or 999 for assistance.
