KOTA KINABALU: A foreign fishing boat with five Vietnamese nationals onboard was detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) about 17.1 nautical miles off Pulau Mantanani, Kota Belud, at 9 am yesterday.
Sabah and Labuan Federal Territory MMEA director First Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said the boat and the five fishermen, aged between 17 and 40, were detained on suspicion of committing offences under the Fisheries Act 1985 and the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Pulau Mantanani is identified as one of the focus areas for foreign fishing boats, especially from Vietnam, to carry out illegal fishing activities, he said in statement here today.
Mohd Rosli said the boat and the fishermen were taken to the MMEA jetty in Sepanggar for further investigation. –Bernama
