MERSING: The Johor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency has detained a foreign sailboat for illegally entering the waters off Sungai Mersing.

       Mersing MMEA director Commander Maritime Khairul Nizam Misran said the sailboat’s skipper was detained at around 12.45pm on Thursday (May 26), 1.6 nautical miles (2.96km) east of Sungai Mersing estuary.

       He said the 44-year-old French national was detained during Ops Jaksa for illegal entry into the country and failing to produce travel documents from the authorities to enter Malaysia.

       “The suspect also failed to register his arrival with the Immigration Department,’’ Khairul Nizam said in a statement.

       He said the case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1952 and Merchant Shipping Ordinance 1952.