One of the two fishing boats intercepted by MMEA off the mouth of Sungai Miri.
MIRI (June 19): Five foreigners on board two fishing boats were detained Thursday after they failed to produce valid identification documents.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Miri zone director Captain Md Fauzi Othman said agency vessels intercepted the boats at about 9.30am, about five nautical miles off the mouth of Sungai Miri.
“MMEA assets were conducting routine patrols around Miri waters when they came across two fishing boats in the area.
“A check carried out on the five men on board the two boats found that they did not have any valid identification documents. They are believed to be foreign nationals,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He said the boats, crew and fishing equipment were brought to the Marina Bay jetty for further investigation.
The case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 and Immigration Act 1958/63, he added.
Md Fauzi also said for complaints, feedback or emergencies at sea, the public can contact the MMEA Miri operations centre on 085-418204, MMEA Sarawak operations centre on 082-432544, or MERS 999.