KOTA KINABALU: Six Vietnamese fishermen suspected of illegal harvesting sea cucumbers have been arrested, and a seizure valued at over RM2mil was made in waters off Sandakan after a brief chase by marine officials.
Marine policemen patrolling the area near Sungai Asam noticed the foreign vessel and approached it for inspection at around 4.15pm, on Friday (July 26).
Sandakan marine police operations commanding officer Deputy Supt Ezuandi Bahadin said his patrol personnel saw the suspicious vessel trawling in the area.
“When the vessel's crew saw our men, they sped up and tried to flee, refusing to stop despite our instructions. But we managed to intercept them shortly after," he said in a statement.
Marine officials boarded the vessel and found that it was a Vietnamese boat without a permit to fish in Sabah waters. A barrel filled with suspected illegally harvested sea cucumbers was also seized, DSP Ezuandi said.
He added that the six suspects, aged between their 30s and 70s, were brought back to the marine base for questioning, while the vessel and sea cucumbers were confiscated for further investigation.
The estimated value of the seizure, including the vessel and sea cucumbers, is about RM2.09mil.
This case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act, DSP Ezuandi said, while urging the public to continue cooperating with authorities to curb crime at sea.
