MMEA detains two boats, 24 Vietnamese fishermen in operation

PEKAN: Eastern Region Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained 24 Vietnamese fishermen onboard two fishing boats during a three-day integrated operation which ended this morning.
Its deputy director (Operation) Capt V. Pannir Selvan said in the operation carried out in the waters off Kuala Pahang, Nenasi and Pulau Tioman, a foreign fishing boat was detained about 83 nautical miles from Kuala Pahang at about 11 am yesterday.
"While the boat was being inspected, a crew member tried to offer a RM20,000 bribe to the enforcement officers but the fishermen were arrested and various seafood products, fishing equipment and a boat worth about RM300,000 were seized," he told reporters at the Kuala Pahang Jetty here, today.
He said at 11 pm on the same day a local fishing boat deployed by some Vietnamese citizens to fish illegally in national waters, was detained about three miles from Tanjung Gemok.
Over 200 personnel were involved in the integrated operation which was participated by the Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Fisheries Department of Malaysia, the Marine Department of Malaysia and the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia.
"All arrested will be charged for offences under the Fisheries Act, Immigration Act and the MACC Act," he said adding that since early Jan to date, 1,433 boats were inspected off Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu and 50 of the boats were operated by Vietnamese nationals. — Bernama