Kawthoung, 6 February
Security members from the Myanmar Navy seized a boat filled with timber logs to be illegally smuggled to Malaysia in the Andaman Sea in Kawthoung Township, Taninthayi Region on 3 February.
The seized boat loaded with timber logs was handed over to local authorities in Kawthoung on 5 February. Security personnel from a Myanmar Navy ship led by Captain Lwin Ko Ko Maung found a suspicious boat at about 5 p.m. on 3 February while performing law enforcement activities in the Andaman Sea. They intercepted the suspicious boat but crew members from the boat attempted to flee the scene.
The Myanmar Navy vessel hunted and seized the boat in the sea about 69 nautical miles southwest of Roebank Island. The Myanmar Navy’s security personnel seized the wooden boat measuring 72 ft. in length, 10 ft. in width, and 6 ft. in draught along with about 50 tons of hardwood to be transported to Malaysia unlawfully and arrested seven crew members.
Arrangements are being made to charge against crew members from the boat by the Forest Department and local authorities.—Kyaw Soe (Kawthoung)
Translated by Kyaw Htike Soe
