Catch of the day: Lahad Datu MMEA seized two boats for violating maritime law.
KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained nine men and seized two boats on suspicion of fuel tank modifications and failure to report captain changes while engaged in fishing activities in Lahad Datu waters.
The boats were intercepted by the Lahad Datu MMEA Maritime Zone during Ops Pluto Timur 2/2013 and Ops Tiris 3.0, about 3.7 nautical miles southeast of Pulau Sakar on Friday afternoon.
Lahad Datu maritime director Maritime Commander Dzulfikhar Ali said initial inspections revealed that the first boat was operated by an Indonesian and a Palauh individual (sea gypsy), while the second was manned by an Indonesian and six Palauh individuals.
“All crew members, aged between 25 and 40, possessed valid identification documents” Dzulfikhar said in a statement yesterday.
Further inspections found that one boat had installed an unauthorised modified fuel tank and was operating with an expired licence.
“The other boat violated the Sabah Ports and Harbours Enactment for failing to report a change of captain,” he added.
The boats and crewmen were taken to the jetty before being handed over to the investigating officer for further action.
The estimated value of the seizure is RM350,000.
