KUDAT: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized two fishing boats and detained six crew members for transporting various endangered marine species here two days ago.
The six crew members included four foreigners who were detained in the district on Wednesday.
Both boats were apprehended by the KM Ikhlas vessel while it was conducting operations at a location about 58 nautical miles northwest of Simpang Mengayau here at 12.35pm.
Kudat Maritime Zone director Maritime Commander Maurice Grenville Abeyeratne (CORRECT) said the operations were carried out based on intelligence it received.
He said a check on the first boat revealed that two Filipinos and an Indonesian were operating the vessel.
"Further inspection uncovered a total of 35 sacks containing 630kg of pufferfish, 76 sacks of dried clams weighing around 1,368 kg, 39 sacks of dried turtles and 14 boxes weighing 865 kg.
"There were also two sacks weighing about 30kg containing dried snails (kahanga), 6kg of dried seahorses, one sack of shark fins, six boxes of frozen fish (Napoleon wrasse) and one box containing 25 tails," he said in a media statement today.
Maurice Grenville said the other boat inspected was found to be carrying nearly 2,100kg of clams and 375 kg of dried pufferfish.
"The boat was operated by two local individuals, aged 50 and 57, and another 45-year-old Filipino.
"All suspects, along with the boats and seized items were taken to the jetty and handed over to investigators from the Kudat Maritime Zone for further action."
He said the total value of the seizure, including the value of both fishing boats is estimated at RM1.5 million.
"The case is being investigated under the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008, the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, Fisheries Act 1985, Customs Act 1966 and Immigration Act 1959/1963 for suspected possession of questionable identification documents, as well as the Port and Wharf Enactment 2002, and Port and Wharf Regulations 2008."
Meanwhile, Maurice Grenville said the Kudat Maritime Zone urged the public and maritime community to help the agency by reporting any wrongdoing or criminal activities at sea.
He said the information on such cases should be channeled to the MMEA via its Kudat Operations Centre at 088-611858 and the 24-hour MERS 999 hotline.