MMEA detains two trawlers, eight fishermen in national waters

LUMUT: The Maritime District 3 of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained two trawlers and eight local fishermen including four for drug abuse in two separate operations yesterday.
District Maritime director Maritime Capt Wan Mat Wan Abdullah said both boats and eight fishermen were detained at two locations in Pulau Pasir Hitam, Taiping and Pulau Pangkor.
According to him, the two boats were trawling for fish between 2.30pm to 9.10am about one nautical mile south of Pulau Pasir Hitam.
"On inspection, it was found the boats were neither registered and licensed for fishing.
"However two local skippers and two crew members aged between 14 and 23 were released on police bail," he said in a statement here today.
Wan Mat said the case would be investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985.
Meanwhile Wan Mat said in a separate operation, four local fishermen were nabbed for drug abuse about two nautical miles south east of Pulau Pangkor here at 9am yesterday.
He said maritime ship, Tugau detained all the fishermen when they were tested positive for drugs and would be handed over to the National Anti-Drug Agency for further action. — Bernama