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KUDAT: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a boat detected entering national waters about seven nautical miles west of Tanjung Simpang Mengayau on Wednesday.

Kudat Maritime director Hasbullah Omar said the vessel was identified through Sabah’s Sea Surveillance System (Swasla) before being intercepted by a patrol boat conducting Op Sejahtera and Op Khas Pagar Laut.

He said checks found the boat was registered locally, but its operating licence had expired, and it had committed offences under the Sabah Ports and Wharves Enactment.

Further inspection revealed four crew members, including the skipper aged between 27 and 50, failed to produce valid identification documents.

They are suspected of offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and were detained along with the boat before being escorted to the jetty for further investigation.