JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 14 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained 14 Indonesian men and seized two boats and a tanker in the waters off East Johor here Sunday.
MMEA Tanjung Sedili maritime zone director Maritime Captain Mohd Zulfadli Nayan said all the men were detained for committing various offences.
He said the first boat, a wooden boat carrying three Indonesian men was detained at 7.30 am about 3.5 nautical miles south of Tanjung Penyusop.
“The men aged between 21 and 47 were detained and will be investigated under Section 44 and 49 of the Customs Act 1967,” he said in a statement here today.
Mohd Zulfadli said about two hours later, another boat, which was used as a water taxi, manned by a 33-year-old skipper was seized at 2.5 nautical miles south of Tanjung Bulat.
He said the skipper and a passenger aged 25 were detained under Section 44 of the Customs Act 1967, Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking In Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 and Section 5 of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Mohd Zulfadli said the tanker named “FITRI 7” which was registered at the Malabo Port, Equatorial Guinea was detained at 1 pm about 7.4 nautical miles east of Tanjung Penawar.
“Nine crew members of the tanker aged between 27 and 47 were held and will be investigated under Section 491B(l) and Section 72(1) of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952,” he said.
Mohd Zulfadli said the agency arrested the men and took custody of the boats and the tanker after they were caught behaving in a suspicious manner.
— NNN-BERNAMA