KOTA KINABALU: Six bottles suspected to be fish bombs were seized by the coastguards following the arrest of two foreigners in Sabah’s east coast Semporna waters.
The suspects – a 50‑year‑old skipper and a 24‑year‑old crewman — were found without any valid identification documents after a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) patrol intercepted their pump boat near Pulau Karindingan at about 9.30am on Saturday (June 13).
According to MMEA Semporna zone Commander Amir Shublii, a search of the boat found six bottles believed to be fish bombs, along with a pump boat engine and an air compressor allegedly used for diving.
He said the operation was part of Ops Sejahtera, Ops Khas Cegah PATI and Ops Tiris 4.0, when the patrol team detected the red‑and‑white pump boat moving suspiciously and attempted to flee the MMEA patrol vessel that intercepted it 1.6 nautical miles east of the island.
Commander Amir said that fish bombing is a serious crime that destroys coral reefs and marine resources vital to Semporna’s tourism appeal.
Efforts will continue to patrol hotspot areas and he urged coastal communities to act as the “eyes and ears” of enforcement agencies by reporting suspicious activities.
He said the suspects are being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 and the Immigration Act 1959/63.
The seized boat and equipment were towed to Kem Azumi jetty in Semporna for further action.
