MERSING: Eight fishing boat crew members, including an Indonesian national, were detained by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) during routine patrols in the waters off Mersing early yesterday morning.
Mersing Maritime Zone director Commander Suhaizan Saadin said that the arrests were made at 3am after the inspection of three local fishing boats revealed that the crew members were intoxicated.
"The detained crew underwent urine screenings, and the men, aged between 37 and 55, tested positive for traces of methamphetamine, amphetamine, and morphine," he said in a statement today.
"The detainees — seven Malaysians and one Indonesian — were crew members of the three local fishing vessels," he said.
They have been taken to the Mersing Maritime Zone for further investigation under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
If convicted under Section 15(1)(a), they could face a maximum fine of RM5,000 or imprisonment for up to two years.
Suhaizan said that similar operations would continue to prevent illegal activities at sea.
He urged the public, particularly those in the maritime community, to report any suspicious or criminal activity in Malaysian waters by contacting the emergency hotline at 999 or the Johor Maritime Operations Centre at 07-2199404.