BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Two Vietnamese fishing vessels conducting illegal fishing in two separate locations in Brunei waters were seized by the Royal Brunei Navy during a routine surveillance recently, local media reported on Wednesday.
According to local daily the Borneo Bulletin, Commanding Officer of Marine Police Superintendent Haji Azree said that both ships were escorted to the Muara Port and handed over to them.
Twenty-seven Vietnamese nationals aged between 15-51 were questioned. Marine Police also found evidence of fishing gear and their catches believed to be made in the Brunei waters.
If convicted, the ships' captains can be fined not more than 100,000 Brunei dollars (72,482 U.S. dollars) or five years' imprisonment or both. Crew members will also face a 2,500 Brunei dollars fine or a year in jail or both.
