Mokpo Coast Guard Arrests Two Suspects Caught Stealing Catches

Foreign Crew Member Accused of Special Theft of Hairtail and Butterfish Worth 900,000 Won

Mokpo Maritime Police Station (Chief Kim Hae-cheol) announced on the 22nd that they arrested two suspects on the spot for stealing catches from a moored fishing vessel, charging them under the Criminal Act (special theft) and the Act on the Punishment of Violent Crimes, etc.

Mokpo Maritime Police Station exterior view
[Photo by Mokpo Maritime Police Station]

On the 21st at 10:18 PM, Mokpo Maritime Police received a report from the owner of fishing vessel A (48t, registered in Changwon), moored at Bukhang, Mokpo City, that crew members were stealing catches from the fish hold. The police moved to the scene and arrested two suspects at 10:40 PM on the spot.

The owner and captain of vessel A boarded the ship at around 10:10 PM on the 21st to check for any abnormalities and witnessed a foreign crew member B (in his 20s) carrying catches and coming up to the pier while the fish hold at the bow was open.

Suspicious of this, the owner and captain inspected the fish hold and found unpacked catches lying on the floor, and another foreign crew member C (in his 20s) hiding in a corner of the fish hold.

Accordingly, the owner and captain apprehended crew members B and C, who committed the theft, and reported them to the maritime police.

According to the maritime police investigation, the stolen catches included hairtail and butterfish, valued at approximately 900,000 KRW. Further investigation will be conducted on suspects B and C regarding additional offenses.

A Mokpo Maritime Police official stated, “To prevent theft of catches stored in fish holds, measures such as installing locks are necessary,” and added, “If any damage occurs, please report it to the maritime police immediately.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.