Penang: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) of Penang detained two Local Fishing Vessels (VNT) in separate operations in the state's waters yesterday on suspicion of violating prescribed valid licence conditions.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Penang MMEA Director Maritime Captain Muhammad Suffi Mohd Ramli stated that the first arrest was made by Maritime Vessel (KM) SIKUATI during patrols at a position 36.5 nautical miles south of Pulau Kendi, near here, at 8:10 am. Inspections revealed that the vessel was operated by five crew members, including a skipper, all of whom were Myanmar nationals aged 22 to 43, and checks found that most of them failed to produce valid personal identification documents.

"Initial investigations also found that the vessel was suspected of violating valid licence conditions for using foreign skippers and crew without written permission from the Director-General of Fisheries, in addition to being suspected of committing an offence under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not possessing a valid pass or work permit," he said in a statement today.

In the second arrest, he mentioned that his team detained another local fishing vessel near the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM) Jetty at 8:15 pm following intelligence information. The vessel was suspected of conducting fishing activities less than 12 nautical miles from the shore, thereby violating the stipulated valid licence conditions, alongside finding that the vessel was operated by four crew members including a Thai skipper aged 31 to 69.

He added that all crew members along with both vessels, estimated to be worth nearly RM6 million, were detained and escorted to the Batu Uban Marine Police Force Jetty before being handed over to the Penang MMEA investigating officer for further action and investigation.