The results of the joint operation by the CIB and Phuket Marine Police were reported by the CIB on Friday evening (Feb 16) and have yet to be commented on by any local authorities as of today (Feb 18).
According to the CIB, the two boat operators – identified only as Mr Sompon and Mr Jiranan – were arrested “at sea, approximately 600 yards from Laem Mai Phai, Ratsada.”
The two suspects were in charge of two unnamed vessels caught in the act of pulling up their nets in an area where fishing is prohibited. In total, there were 17 crew members on board the two boats. All of them were taken to the Phuket Marine Police Station, but the CIB mentioned only charges against Mr Sompon and Mr Jiranan.
“Mr Sompon admitted that his ship had not received a commercial fishing license yet and had previously been arrested and prosecuted for the same charges. The police then informed the arrested of the charges,” the CIB reported.
The charges against the two suspects were described by the CIB as “jointly using commercial fishing gear to fish without permission.”