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PITAS: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained a suspected Vietnamese fishing vessel 13 nautical miles northeast of Tigabu Island here on Monday.

Kudat Maritime Zone Director Hasbullah Omar said the operation followed a public tip-off, which prompted the deployment of patrol boat Cenderawasih 10 to the area.

The suspect vessel was spotted at around 5.50am and attempted to flee but was successfully intercepted and boarded by enforcement officers.

Checks revealed six Vietnamese men, aged between 27 and 44, onboard without any valid identification documents, along with fishing equipment and about 300 litres of diesel.

All six individuals and the boat were detained for further investigation under the Fisheries Act 1985 and Immigration Act 1959/63, with the seized assets valued at nearly RM2 million.