ALOR STAR: A local fishing vessel crewman who was feared drowned after he leapt into the sea to flee from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency's patrol team near Kuala Kedah yesterday evening, has been found safe.
The 40-year-old man swam to the shore and returned to his home in Sungai Baru, Kuala Perlis.
MMEA Kuala Perlis director Maritime Commander Mohd Hashim Mat Zain said the man was arrested at his home this evening.
"His wife initially informed us that her husband was not at home but upon inspection, the man was found hiding inside.
"Upon interrogation, it was discovered that the suspect had jumped into the water to avoid being arrested by the MMEA because he was involved in drug abuse," Hashim said in a statement.
Earlier today, it was reported that a local fishing vessel crewman was feared drowneds after he leapt into the sea in his haste to flee from the MMEA patrol team near Kuala Kedah yesterday evening.
In the 9.50pm incident, the vessel had sped off after being spotted by the MMEA's Kuala Perlis Zone patrol team.
When the patrol team caught up with the vessel about 4.1 nautical miles from Kuala Kedah waters, one of the crew members jumped into the water.
This prompted MMEA to mount a Search and Rescue operation with the assistance of rescuers from several other agencies.