The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized two boats with fishing materials and dried cuttlefish worth RM1 million and detained 16 Vietnamese fishermen for encroaching into Malaysian waters, yesterday.

Tok Bali MMEA Commander, Zainin Abdul Majid said the two boats were detained about 110 nautical miles from Tok Bali waters at 12.40pm .

“The fishermen, comprising 14 crew and two skippers, aged 16 to 48 years, were detained under Section 15(1)(a) of the Fisheries Act 1985 and if found guilty can be fined RM100,000 to RM1 million each,” he told reporters here today.

Zainin added two others boats from Vietnam were also seized because of the same offence in January and February this year.

2012 Bernama