Three Vietnamese fishing boats with fake Thai names seized in Gulf

The Royal Thai Navy has seized three Vietnamese fishing boats and rescued four Thai crews who claimed they were duped to work on board the vessels on Saturday.

The three Vietnamese fishing boats have adopted Thai names and flown Thai flags to deceive Thai authorities as they were spotted fishing near KohJuang off Sattahip district of Chon Buri.

However, the RTN despatched two vessels to check the real identities of the three boats after several Vietnamese fishing boats were earlier seized for illegal fishing in the same area.

The three fishing boats were ordered to stop and sailors went on board to check and it was discovered that the Thai names of the boats; Chalam Thong Nava 10, ChalamNong Nava 1 and SakdaNakhon 1 are all fake.

Four Thai crews who are natives of Rayong and PrachinBuri were found on board and they claimed they were duped to work on the boats without their consent.

Found in the hulls of the boats were several 200-litre drums containing squids and sea cucumber. The boats were later escorted to Sattahip naval base with their Vietnamese skippers and crews detained for questioning.

Thai PBS

Stay updated with Samui Times by following us on Facebook.