The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized two fishing boats with 20 Vietnamese fishermen aboard at the borders of Terengganu and Pahang waters on June 10.
Illustrative image.
MMEA Director in Pahang Khoo Teng Chuan said the arrests took place when MMEA was conducting a campaign to prevent illegal fishing boats.
The two boats were detained about 67 nautical miles from Tanjung Tembeling, with a fish haul and equipment worth 250,000 USD being confiscated.
Further investigations revealed that several fishermen, aged between 18 and 45, had valid identification documents while the rest did not have any document nor a valid permit to fish in the waters of the country.
They were taken to Kuantan MMEA lockup for further investigation while the two boats were towed to the Kemaman MMEA jetty.
The case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985. If convicted, the boats could be confiscated, the captain could be fined 1 million RM (250,000 USD) while crew members could be fined 500,000 RM each, he said.
VNA