PASIR PUTEH: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained two foreign boat captains and 17 crew members for encroaching Malaysian waters here yesterday.
Also seized during the operation codenamed Ops Kuda Laut were two Vietnam vessels, 50kg of squid and other equipment worth about RM2.5 million.
Kelantan MMEA director Maritime Captain Syed Nor Adli Syed Ab Rahman said the operations were carried out 93 and 95 nautical miles off Tok Bali beach.
The first vessel with eight crew members was detained at 9.31am at 93 nautical miles off the coast.
"The second vessel with 11 crew members was detained an hour later at 95 nautical miles off the same coast.
"The two vessels were about to lay their fishing nets when they were detained.
"They only managed to catch a few kilogrammes of squid when nabbed by MMEA officers," he told a press conference here today.
Nor Adli said a majority of the crew did not have identification documents while the rest were found with seamen books.
"Many of them could not produce valid documents. Before being brought to the police station, they were required to undergo swab tests and all tested negative (for Covid-19)," he said.
He added the 19, aged between 18 and 60-years-old, were being held for further action.