KUALA LUMPUR: A joint task force has detained 25 Vietnamese fishing vessels for illegal fishing. The vessels were detained during Ops Naga, which involved the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency(MMEA), Royal Malaysia Navy, Royal Malaysia Air Force, police and Fisheries Department. The Home Ministry in a statement on Saturday (May 18) said the operation covered Malaysian waters and airspace in Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan between May 2 and May 16. "The 25 were Vietnamese fishing vessels and 123 crew members were arrested," the ministry said. On April 24, Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Agriculture and Agro-Base Industry Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub, and Deputy Defence Minister Senator Liew Chin Tong announced the implementation of the task force to handle foreign fishing activities, especially by Vietnamese fishing boats, in Malaysian waters.

Source: The Star May 18, 2019 05:37 UTC