Myanmar Fishing Vessel Seized for Illegally Entering Thai Waters

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of RTN.

 

Authorities in Ranong have seized a Myanmar-registered fishing vessel and detained six crew members after the boat was found trespassing in Thai waters near Ko Chang. The vessel raised multiple suspicions, leading officials to believe it may have been involved in illegal activities.

 

On March 2, Vice Admiral Suwat Donsakul, Commander of the Third Naval Area Command and Director of the Maritime Security Command for the region, received a report from the 451st Air and Coastal Defence Unit (NPSR 451) on Koh Chang. Officials had detected an unidentified fishing boat intruding 3.2 nautical miles into Thai waters, west of Ko Chang.

 

In response, Lieutenant Commander Apiphat Sirikhong, captain of patrol boat T.993, was ordered to investigate and apprehend the vessel. The patrol boat eventually located the suspicious fishing vessel 4.5 nautical miles south of Koh Sin Hai, well within Thai territorial waters.

 

Upon closer inspection, the vessel, named Annawar Min 999, was confirmed to be Myanmar-flagged but was operating without displaying a national flag and lacked navigational radar. The crew consisted of six Myanmar nationals, but curiously, no fishing equipment was found onboard. The vessel’s interior was empty, with no storage for fish or ice, further raising suspicions.

 

Authorities noted that the boat closely resembled another vessel intercepted by the Third Naval Area Command in February under similar circumstances. This led them to suspect the vessel may have been engaged in unlawful activities before being intercepted.

 

The patrol boat escorted Annawar Min 999 and its crew to Ranong Deep-Sea Port, arriving at 10:45. At the dock, Captain Traichak Sasathatham, head of the Ranong Port Security Control Centre, along with officers from the Third Naval Area Command and various security agencies, initiated a thorough investigation.

 

Officials from the Maritime Security Command and the Thai-Myanmar Border Fisheries Coordination Centre have begun questioning the crew to determine why they had crossed into Thai waters. Initial assessments suggest the vessel may have been involved in illegal operations, given the numerous suspicious factors.

 

On the morning of March 3, a multi-agency inspection team conducted a detailed search of the vessel, with forensic specialists from Ranong Province collecting evidence. Authorities have vowed to take further legal action as necessary.

 

-- 2025-03-04