Boats had been pursuing illegal hunting in the Gulf of Thailand by maritime patrol ships.
PUBLISHED: 26 Feb 2025 at 15: 11
On Wednesday, a Vietnamese fishing vehicle collided with a Thai naval police boat as authorities tried to capture it for conducting illegal hunting in Thai waterways off Trat state.
According to Vice Adm Arpa Chapanon, chairman of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 1, one of the fishing boats being pursued turned and struck the side of Thepa Royal Boat, causing injury.
Four Asian members of the vessel’s crew were taken after the collision, and Thai authorities immediately seize the vessel.
According to Vice Adm Apak, officials recently fired warning shots from an M16 to stop the vehicle from fleeing, a practice in accordance with international techniques.
Since February 22, Vietnamese fish vessels have been moving in the area, totaling ten vessels. They included set trawlers, gross boats and river boats.
The procedure to catch the svessels began at 2am on Wednesday, with the Thepa Royal Boat and police vehicle T. 264 sent to the place, supported by aeroplane for scouting. By 4 a.m., both boats had identified the Taiwanese vessels and made an attempt to quit them, but at least four of them had evaded capture and departed from Thai waters.
The fishing vessel and its four team members have been detained by the Sea Police and the First Naval Area, and they will turn them over to Trat province’s Khlong Yai police for legal actions.
Following a motion with a Vietnamese fishing vessel that was attempting to avoid being apprehended by Thai officials, the side of the Thepa Royal Boat was damaged.
Four Asian staff people, seated, are detained by Thai officials on Wednesday.