THE Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained four fishing vessels and 43 Vietnamese fishermen, including their skippers, for illegal fishing in the country’s waters on Thursday.

Kelantan MMEA deputy director (operations) Khairun Dalilah Baharun said the vessels were discovered during the Op Damai, Op Khas Kuda Laut, Op Naga Barat and Op Tiris patrols by the enforcement vessel KD Amanah about 125-150 nautical miles from the Tok Bali estuary.

She said two of the boats were detained at 8.18am and 9.01am, while the other two were caught while the enforcement vessel was escorting the first two boats to the detention jetty at 2.32pm and 2.50pm.

“The boats tried to flee towards international waters when they were ordered to stop.

“The enforcement vessel had to overtake them and board the boats by force. All the fishermen on board were Vietnamese men aged between 16 and 61,” Khairun told a press conference at the MMEA Tok Bali office in Pasir Puteh today.

She said the four boats, 6,000kg of fish on board, fishing, navigation and communication equipment and diesel seized in the operation were estimated to be worth RM3.86 million.

She said 17 Vietnamese fishing vessels with 137 fishermen on board have been detained by the Kelantan MMEA so far this year, with an estimated RM18.56 million in seized items. – Bernama, September 24, 2023.