Japanese poachers detained in Russian territorial waters

A Japanese fishing boat has been detained in Russian territorial waters near the Kuril Islands. Russian coast guards said there had been two boats, illegally crossed the border, but they had managed to seize only one.

“The ship has been refusing to stop for about an hour, when it attempted to free, Russian guards detained the crew of 6 Japanese citizens. The board is being escorted to the town of Yuzhno-Kurilsk. The captain has admitted responsibility for poaching in the Russian territorial waters. There were two tones of fish on board. Now the fishing equipment is being inspected. The Japanese citizens can leave the boat only after the investigation is over and any charge is imposed,” said Evgeny Lazarev of the Coast Guard Press Service.