A Vietnamese fishing boat’s attempt to evade authorities by acting aggressively, including throwing equipment into the sea, ended in failure when it was intercepted by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Kelantan last Saturday.
The vessel was detained approximately 232 kilometres from Muara Tok Bali after being spotted behaving suspiciously in Malaysian waters during patrol operations under Op Damai, Op Naga, Op Pelantar Merah and Op Tiris 4.0.
Kelantan MMEA director Captain Kamal Mohamad said the boat attempted to flee and obstruct enforcement efforts by discarding ropes, fishing nets and barrels into the sea.
He added that the skipper refused to cooperate despite being instructed to stop, but swift action by enforcement officers led to the successful interception and arrest of the vessel.
Inspections revealed that all 12 crew members, aged between 19 and 60, including the 42-year-old skipper, failed to produce valid identification documents or permits to fish in Malaysian waters.
Authorities also suspect the vessel was using a fake local registration number to mislead enforcement agencies.
Further checks uncovered approximately 500 kilograms of seafood on board, with the total value of seized items — including the boat, fishing equipment and catch — estimated at RM1.2 million.
The case highlights ongoing enforcement efforts to curb illegal fishing activities in national waters.
