PETALING JAYA: The skipper and two fisherman of a fishing trawler were taken off their boat by seven armed men last night near Pom Pom Island off Semporna.
They are believed to have been taken towards Tawi Tawi Islands in the southern Philippines, according to a news report.
The owner of the fishing boat reported to police that the gunmen kidnapped the three fishermen at about 10.20pm on Saturday.
All three were Filipino Bajau, among a crew of 11 on the trawler, according to The Star Online. The kidnappers fled in a green boat towards the southern Philippines.
The kidnapping came days after the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) reported carrying out intensive operations against smugglers. Malaysian security forces were reported last week to be on high alert because of an all-out assault by the Philippines military against the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.