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KUDAT: Five Vietnamese fishermen were detained after their vessel attempted to ram a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) patrol boat in a failed bid to evade capture near Pulau Malawali early Monday.

The vessel, spotted around 4am following a public tip-off, refused to comply with orders to stop.

The suspects cut their towing rope, deployed metal bars, and aggressively tried to ram the pursuing patrol boat. After a 15-minute chase, MMEA officers boarded and secured the vessel.

Authorities seized about 40kg of illegally caught sea cucumbers (balat), 300 litres of diesel, and specialised metal equipment designed for illegal seabed trawling. The five suspects, aged 28–39, had no valid identification.

The case is being investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 and Immigration Act 1956/63. Total seizures, including the vessel and gear, are valued at over RM2 million.