Vessel with 41 illegal immigrants rams MMEA patrol boat

 The vessel's skipper acted aggressively and conducted several dangerous manoeuvres to avoid being detained, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said.

The vessel was intercepted and detained at 3.35am. On board were 29 men and 12 women, aged 21 to 57, believed to be illegal immigrants from Indonesia. (File pic)

IPOH:

A vessel carrying 41 Indonesian illegal immigrants was detained after four attempts were made to ram a Malaysian coastguard patrol vessel in the waters of Teluk Senangin near Lumut early this morning.

A patrol boat of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency had moved to intercept the vessel following a public tipoff at 12.40am.

“During the operation, the vessel’s skipper acted aggressively to escape and conducted several dangerous manoeuvres to avoid being detained, ramming the patrol boat four times, threatening the safety of the personnel,” MMEA said in a statement today.

The vessel was intercepted and detained at 3.35am. On board were 29 men and 12 women, aged 21 to 57, believed to be illegal immigrants from Indonesia. - FMT