SELANGOR Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) successfully intercepted a foreign fishing vessel suspected of smuggling illegal immigrants out of the country.
The Indonesian boat was detained around 1.10pm on Thursday (May 23), according to an official statement from the MMEA.
The operation was led by the agency’s patrol boat KM Danga, which apprehended the vessel approximately 2.4 nautical miles southwest of Tanjung Gabang in Morib.
Selangor MMEA state director Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh reported that the inspection revealed 42 individuals onboard, believed to be Indonesians.
“Inspection found 42 individuals, believed to be Indonesians, out of which 30 were men and 11 women as well as a one-year-old infant, hiding under a blue canvas in the boat. None of those detained possessed valid identification documents,” said Abdul Muhaimin.
Moreover, he indicated that the detainees are suspected of violating the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act for attempting to exit Malaysia through an unauthorised route without proper documentation.
“Those who were detained, as well as the boat, were brought to the Selangor MMEA headquarters jetty here before being turned in to the agency’s investigation officer,” he further added.
Abdul Muhaimin assured that the MMEA remains vigilant in protecting Malaysian waters from illegal activities. – May 24, 2024
All photos credited to The Star
