Selangor: The Selangor branch of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a Class B local fishing vessel (VNT) for multiple offences, including an attempt to smuggle a migrant out of the country via a non-gazetted route, in the waters off Sekinchan early yesterday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the detention followed intelligence gathering and continuous surveillance of suspicious vessel movements believed to breach licence conditions and existing laws. Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh, director of the Selangor MMEA, stated that the vessel was detained at about 5 am by an MMEA patrol boat approximately 2.5 nautical miles west of Sekinchan. Initial inspection found the vessel was operated by a skipper and three crew members aged between 28 and 61, all Indonesian nationals.

Abdul Muhaimin elaborated that preliminary checks revealed the vessel had breached licence conditions, and none of the individuals on board could produce valid identification documents. Further inspection uncovered a man suspected to be an undocumented migrant, with evidence indicating an attempted illegal exit via a non-gazetted route.

The skipper, three crew members, the migrant, and seized items were taken to the Marine Police Jetty in Pulau Indah. The case will be investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985, the Immigration Act 1959/63, and ATIPSOM 2007.