The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) have issued a warning for mariners operating in the region of Sabah, Malaysia to exercise extreme caution after 3 crew members were abducted by masked and heavily armed men.

On 23rd September, at about 1200 hours (local time) seven masked-men armed
with high powered firearms such as M16, RPG and pistols – believed to be
members of the Kidnap for Ransom Group (KFRG) in Sulu-based Abu
Sayyaf Group (ASG) – abducted three Indonesian crew from a Malaysian
fishing boat.

The fishing boat was in the vicinity waters of Tambisan Island,
Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia when the perpetrators boarded the fishing
boat from two pump boats.

The perpetrators fled towards Tawi-tawi Island, Philippines.

The Malaysia and Philippine authorities are stepping up its patrol efforts,
conducting pursuit operations and intensifying its military operation to rescue
the abducted crew and neutralise the militant group.

To prevent unauthorised boarding see MARSS CLiMBERguard