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KUDAT: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained 12 Vietnamese fishermen and foiled the operations of two Vietnamese fishing vessels illegally harvesting marine resources in Kudat waters on Sunday afternoon.

The suspects, aged between 30 and 53, had no valid identification documents when apprehended.

Both vessels and their catch were escorted to the jetty for further investigation under the Fisheries Act 1985 and Immigration Act 1959/63, with total seizures estimated to be worth over RM4 million.

The operation was launched following a public tip-off, prompting the deployment of Kudat Maritime Zone assets Cenderawasih 10 and Adal 04 at around 3.15pm.

The vessels were intercepted 11 nautical miles northeast of Sibogor Island, where they were found conducting illegal fishing using solid metal gear designed to catch sea cucumbers and carrying 45 kilogrammes of the catch plus about 500 litres of diesel per boat.