24-2-2024 (BANGKOK) In a significant operation conducted by marine police, two Vietnamese trawlers were apprehended, and 11 crew members were arrested for engaging in illegal sea cucumber trawling in Thai waters. The incident occurred off the coast of Songkhla, a southern border province.
The marine police team discovered the two trawlers engaged in illegal fishing approximately 42 nautical miles away from Songkhla’s navigation floating light on Thursday. Upon sighting the patrol vessels, the trawlers attempted to escape, prompting the marine police team to initiate a pursuit. It took approximately one hour for the officers to intercept and apprehend the trawlers, as reported by Pol Col Poramet Phoeynok, the superintendent of Sub-Division 7 of the Marine Police Division.
Following the successful interception, all 11 crew members were taken into custody, and the two trawlers were seized. They were subsequently handed over to the Muang district police station in Songkhla to face legal action.
