On February 26, the Indian Coast Guard apprehended a Bangladeshi fishing boat with 28 crew members in the Bay of Bengal for illegal fishing within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The vessel was found operating without valid permits, leading to its detention and the crew’s escort to Frazerganj for legal proceedings.
The Australian Border Force (ABF) successfully intercepted two foreign fishing vessels in northern Queensland and the Torres Strait, preventing illegal fishing activities. Operation BROADSTAFF, launched last week, aims to disrupt such activities. Community involvement proved crucial, with local reports aiding in monitoring suspicious actions in the region. The operation continues.
On February 11, Singapore Police arrested crews from three tugboats for suspected illegal fuel sales offshore. Eighteen men, aged 21 to 45, allegedly misappropriated Marine Gas Oil valued at S$13,670. The Police Coast Guard is committed to combating such activities amid rising demand in Singapore’s booming bunker market. Charges are pending.
On August 26, 2025, a ceremony at the Myanmar Seafarers Federation in Yangon focused on the repatriation of illegally employed seafarers. Captain Soe Min Aung addressed their challenges, while four seafarers shared harrowing experiences from Oman. The event underscored the need for safe employment and the protection of maritime workers’ rights.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) intercepted a tugboat and barge operating illegally in Malaysian waters. Detained were eight crew members, including Malaysians, Myanmar nationals, and Indonesians. Authorities discovered unauthorized cargo and insufficient documentation, underscoring the risks posed by such illegal activities to navigational safety in the region.
The Australian Border Force intercepted and destroyed two foreign fishing vessels off Western Australia’s coast to crackdown on Indonesian incursions into protected waters. The vessels, suspected of illegal fishing, were seized with 12 fishermen detained. The ABF found over 400 kilos of cucumber and 360 kilos of salt onboard.
