The vessels, from Ben Tre City, were caught fishing near a gas platform in the Arthit field by officers from the Royal Thai Navy Region 2’s HTMS Klongyai. The trawlers were towed to the Songkhla Navy base and the crews taken to police at about 1am to face legal action.
The fishermen were accused of violating the Immigration Act 1979 and the Act Governing the Right to Fish in Thai Fishery Waters 1939.