The Indonesian government has placed a Vietnamese-flagged fishing vessel and its crew in custody for alleged illegal fishing off the Riau Islands.
On Thursday, October 8, the suspect vessel and six Vietnamese fishermen on board were apprehended after being sighted by the Indonesian Navy corvette KRI John Lie during a routine patrol of the North Natuna Sea.
Indonesian officials said the Vietnamese fishermen were detained after they were found to have engaged in poaching within the exclusive economic zone claimed by Jakarta.
The fishing vessel and its crew have since been brought to an Indonesian Navy base for the proper filing of charges.
