The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been informed of the apprehension of a fishing vessel together with its Cambodian crew. The spokesperson of the Royal Thai Navy already clarified that on 22 February 2026, at approximately 9:30 a.m., a Royal Thai Navy patrol vessel conducting maritime security patrols in the coastal area of Trat Province, detected an unidentified fishing vessel with three Cambodian crew members engaged in fishing activities inside Thai territorial sea.

Thai officials then proceeded to board, inspect and detain the vessel and the crew. Preliminary examination revealed that the vessel was unnamed and without nationality; especially, no vessel registration documents or personal identification documents of the crew were found on board. The Cambodian crew members admitted that they had been hired by a Cambodian entity to conduct fishing activities together with several other vessels, and were unaware that they had encroached upon Thai territorial sea. Subsequently, the vessel was seized, and the suspects were apprehended and escorted to Khlong Yai Multipurpose Port in Trat Province for further legal proceedings under Thai law.

The Royal Thai Government reaffirms its commitment to strictly enforcing maritime laws to safeguard national sovereignty and sovereign rights to protect maritime interests and maintain confidence among Thai fishermen. Thailand’s action fully adheres to the principles of proportionality, the right of self-defense, and international humanitarian principles.