Two fishy hauls lead to arrests in two states
KOTA KINABALU: The authorities in Sabah and Johor have seized a total of 140kg of sea products in two separate incidents.
In Sabah, a routine sea patrol and check on fishermen off Semporna district led to the discovery of over 70kg of fish caught using explosives.
The fish were seized from two men near Bum-Bum Island at about 4.30pm on Tuesday.
Semporna Marine Police operations base commanding officer Deputy Supt Mohammad Ismail said the fishermen, in their 30s, were asked how they got a big catch.
“Further questioning led to the suspects admitting that they used fish bombs,” he said.
He said the fish, worth RM8,170, were confiscated along with two reels of hose, a compressor, two pump engines and a boat.
The suspects will be investigated under the Fisheries Act 1985 for possessing fish caught using explosives.
“We welcome any information relating to crime at sea,” he said, adding that the police could be contacted at 013-283 1197.
In Iskandar Puteri, the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) seized about 70kg of frozen slipper lobsters worth RM8,400 at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas.
Johor Maqis director Hizzuan Hashim said the lobsters were imported from Indonesia and seized during a routine inspection at the port at about 3pm on Tuesday.
“The inspection was made on a frozen fish container and investigations revealed that the slipper lobsters were brought in without an import permit.
“All the lobsters were then confiscated for investigations,” he said in a statement.
He added that the case was being investigated under Section 11(1) of the Malaysia Quarantine and Inspection Services 2011 (Act 728) for importing agricultural products without valid documents.
He said that a person could be fined not more than RM100,000 or jailed for a period not exceeding six years, or both, if convicted under the Act.