Malaysia has detained 12 Vietnamese fishermen, for allegedly fishing in Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

According to the Malaysian New Strait Times newspaper, the boat was seized on Thursday.

An inspection by the Malaysian naval authorities reported that none of the crew had valid permits or IDs to fish in the zone.

In a statement, the naval authority stressed the seriousness of illegal fishing, referring to their detention of the Vietnamese boat as an act of deterrence.

In the first six months of this year, 84 fishing boats and 608 Vietnamese fishermen were seized for illegally fishing in neighbouring countries.

– TiVi Tuan-san