Maritime Enforcement Agency Detains Three Foreign Boats With Seizures Worth RM3 Mln

KEMAMAN (Terengganu), Oct 10 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency detained three foreign fishing boats from Vietnam in an operation near here Sunday, seizing fish catches and assets worth a total of RM3 million. Kemaman district Maritime Base director Lt Commander Muhamad Rezal Kamal Bashah said the first boat was detained at 9.15 am, about 74 nautical miles from Kuala Kemaman. "The second boat was held 85 nautical miles from Kuala Kemaman at 10.30 am while the third boat was caught at 11.30 am, about 88 nautical miles from Kuala Kemaman. “Inspections on all three boats found they did not have valid licenses, work permits, and also suspected of using fake registration numbers," he told reporters here, Monday. He said among the tactics used by the foreigners to encroach the country's waters was flying the Malaysian flag, and painting their vessels to resemble local boats. -- BERNAMA