The arrests followed a coordinated operation by the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center Region 3 (Thai MECC 3) and the Royal Thai Navy Region 3.
According to officials, the Thai MECC 3 Operations Centre received information from its fishing network at 11:20am on Tuesday (Mar 10) that a group of five Indonesian fishing vessels were operating in Thailand’s EEZ about 87 nautical miles southwest of Thai Mueang District in Phang Nga Province, roughly 150 nautical miles from Aceh, Indonesia.
A reconnaissance aircraft, a DO-228 maritime patrol plane, was dispatched to verify the report and confirmed the presence of five fishing vessels in the area.
Following the confirmation, authorities deployed the patrol vessel HTMS Khlong Yai along with a special operations unit to investigate and intercept the vessels.
At 11:05pm on Tuesday, the naval patrol detected and apprehended one Indonesian fishing vessel with five crew members on board.
Later, at 3:58am on Wednesday (Mar 11), officers discovered and boarded another Indonesian fishing vessel, resulting in the arrest of 14 additional crew members.
In total, 19 Indonesian nationals were taken into custody.
Authorities said the seized vessels, along with the suspects and confiscated equipment, were transported to Phuket Customs Port before being transferred to the Marine Police pier in Ratsada.
Officials from Thai MECC 3’s legal division will take over the case once the suspects are brought ashore. The 19 crew members and related arrest documentation will then be handed over to investigators at Wichit Police Station for further legal proceedings.
Officials said all procedures were carried out in accordance with legal requirements and with respect for the suspects’ human rights.
Authorities noted that similar incidents involving Indonesian fishing vessels entering Thai waters illegally have occurred in recent years.
On May 20, 2025, two Indonesian fishing vessels with 18 crew members were arrested about 80 nautical miles southwest of Phuket. Earlier, on April 24, 2025, another Indonesian fishing vessel with five crew members was apprehended near Koh Lipe.
In 2023, authorities also detained multiple vessels. On October 9 that year, three Indonesian fishing boats with 40 crew members were arrested roughly 70 nautical miles southwest of Phuket, while on August 25, two vessels with 29 crew members were seized about 80 nautical miles southwest of the island.
Officials said Indonesian fishermen are sometimes drawn into Thai waters because of the relatively high fish stocks in the area. The abundance of fish is believed to be linked in part to artificial reefs installed by Thai fishermen to attract marine life.
Thai MECC 3 said it remains committed to protecting Thailand’s maritime interests in the Andaman Sea while ensuring sustainable use of marine resources for the future.
Authorities also urged the public to report maritime emergencies through the 24-hour hotline 1465.