THE Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Kelantan has seized four boats and arrested 31 Vietnamese fishermen for illegally fishing in Malaysian waters.

Director Syed Nor Adli Syed Ab Rahman said the fishermen were arrested during two operations on Monday and Wednesday.

“During the first operation, two boats were detained at 3.45pm and 4pm, respectively, about 64nm off the Tok Bali estuary.

“The first boat was manned by five crew, while there were two crew in the second boat,” he said at Kelantan MMEA headquarters in Tok Bali, Pasir Puteh, today.

Syed Nor Adli said on Wednesday, the MMEA patrol boat KM Jujur intercepted two more Vietnamese fishing boats after they were spotted by a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) maritime patrol aircraft.

He said the first boat was stopped at 8.45am, 180nm off the Tok Bali estuary, while the second boat was stopped at 10.57am, 170nm from the same estuary.

He said the boats and 18 Vietnamese nationals were then taken to Kelantan maritime jetty.

Syed Nor Adli said all 31 crew, aged 14 to 64, were detained, having failed to produce valid identification documents.

He added that none of the boats had permits to fish in Malaysian waters.

“We also seized fishing equipment, 1,000kg of fish and 9,200 litres of diesel. The total value of the seized items is estimated to be around RM4.2 million,” he said.

Meanwhile, Syed Nor Adli said the Kelantan MMEA disposed of four Vietnamese fishing boats forfeited by courts by sinking them and turning them into artificial reef 5.3nm from Kuala Besar, Kota Baru, on March 21.

He said the boats were seized during Op Naga Barat, Op Kuda Laut and Op Damai in 2021 and 2022. – Bernama, March 26, 2023.