Kota Kinabalu: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a local fishing vessel along with 10 foreign crew members off Pulau Tiga on Tuesday for suspected immigration and fisheries violations.
Sabah and Labuan MMEA director First Admiral Maritime Mohd Khairulanuar Abd Majid @ Razali said the vessel was intercepted about two nautical miles south-east of the island at around 5.36pm during a routine enforcement patrol.
Inspections revealed the vessel was operated by nine Filipinos and an Indonesian aged between 23 and 53, including the skipper, none of whom possessed valid identification documents under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
The boat was also suspected of operating with an expired fishing licence in breach of the Fisheries Act 1985, leading to the arrest of all crew members and the seizure of the vessel valued at an estimated RM300,000.
Khairulanuar warned maritime operators to strictly adhere to the law, urging anyone with information on crimes at sea to contact the Sabah and Labuan Maritime Operations Centre at 088-387774 or the 999 emergency line.
