TAWAU: Two fishing vessels were detained separately by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Wednesday for allegedly encroaching into Malaysian waters and fishing without authorisation.
Tawau Maritime director Maritime Capt Ariffin Ghazali said the first vessel was intercepted at 10.40am during Ops Sejahtera, Ops Pluto Timur and Op Tiris, about 2.4 nautical miles south of Tanjung Tinagat.
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He said inspections found two Indonesian men aged 44 and 48 on board who failed to produce valid identification documents and a boat registration licence, with initial investigations indicating unauthorised fishing in Malaysian waters.
The second vessel was detained at 11.30am by KM Balung about 2.8 nautical miles southwest of Batu Tinagat, involving two Indonesian nationals who presented questionable travel documents and expired work permits.
Ariffin said all four individuals, the two vessels and the catch were brought to the Tawau Maritime Jetty for investigation under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Fisheries Act 1985, with the total seizure value estimated at RM121,000.
