ZAMBOANGA CITY — Four undocumented Vietnamese are now in the custody of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) after the unregistered fishing vessel they manned was intercepted off Taganak, Tawi-Tawi Friday afternoon, Aug. 16.
Taganak Island is at the boundaries of the international treaty limits between the Philippine and Malaysia.
The vessel and the crewmen are now at Coast Guard station on Great Bakkungaan Island for proper disposition.
According to Commodore Joseph Coyme, PCG Southwestern Mindanao District commander, the unregistered vessel was spotted by coast guard patrol in the vicinity of Langaan Island.
The vessel has no safety security environmental number (SSEN), a tagging system applied to all vessels in the country for purposes of identification and security.
Coast guard personnel found a drum full of sea cucumber during the inspection of the vessel.(with PNA reports)
