Indonesia returns 165 Vietnamese fishermen ahead of Tet

Vietnamese fishing boats are detained on Batam island. (Source: VNA)

Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia returned 70 Vietnamese fishermen who were arrested for breaching Indonesia’s sea while fishing on January 17.

The handover of the fishermen took place at Soekarno Hatta international airport. Due to the limited number of air tickets, only 49 fishermen returned home on January 17. The remaining will fly home on January 18.

According to the consular affairs division of the Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia, a total of 165 fishermen will fly home ahead of Tet (the Vietnamese traditional Lunar New Year).

Seivo Grevo, a warder of the detention centre on Batam island, the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, said the centre is currently keeping 27 fishermen and seven Vietnamese fishing vessels.

Tran Minh Cu, the first secretary of the Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia, said the embassy has asked fishermen to get updated on legal regulations and warned them of the Indonesian government intensifying its fight against criminals at sea, including illegal fishing.

Around 200 newly-arrested fishermen are being detained on Indonesia’s islands.-VNA