MARITIME authorities have detained 37 Vietnamese nationals and confiscated three Vietnamese fishing boats for illegal fishing in Malaysian waters off Mengalum Island near Sabah’s Kota Belud district. 

More than five tonnes of illegally catch were also confiscated, including 228 tiger sharks, in a three-day sea patrol operation codenamed Op Sejahtera. 

Commanding officer Capt Zawawi Abdullah said one of the boats looked like a Vietnamese fishing boat but upon further inspection, found the boat was using the number of a locally registered vessel. 

“In the arrest on Tuesday, the skipper failed to provide any valid identification papers or documents that gives them permission to fish in Malaysian waters. 

“In the arrest yesterday, some 228 tiger sharks were found on board.” 

All the crew aged between 20 and 60 were arrested and their boats seized. – August 30, 2018.