Banda Aceh. Five of 18 fishermen from Indonesia’s Aceh province detained by Thai authorities for alleged illegal fishing will be released on August 27, according to local officials.

The five men, all crew members of the fishing vessel New Raver, were identified as Muhammad Fajar, Dedi Saputra, Safriadi, M. Mukhlis, and Maiyeddin. They are currently being held in Songkhla province, southern Thailand.

“Based on information from the Indonesian Consulate in Songkhla, five will be released on August 27,” said Aliman, Head of Aceh’s Marine and Fisheries Department, on Wednesday.

On May 19, the Thai navy vessel HTMS Longlom intercepted 18 Acehnese fishermen near the Indonesia-Thailand maritime border, accusing them of crossing into Thai waters and conducting illegal fishing. The arrest took place about 56 nautical miles southwest of Phuket island, within Thailand’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The fishermen comprised 12 crew members of the KM Jasa Cahaya Ikhlas, captained by Umar Johan, and six crew members of the KM New Raver, captained by Ridwan.

All 18 appeared before the Phuket Provincial Court on July 9, 2025. Only the five crew of the New Raver have completed their sentences and will be freed next week, while the remaining 13 await further legal proceedings.

“So far, only five will be released early. There is no update yet on the others from the local court,” Aliman said.

The Aceh government is coordinating with multiple agencies to facilitate the fishermen’s return home once they are released.

“They will be repatriated via the Indonesian Consulate in Songkhla. Discussions are ongoing regarding the costs of their return, but the Aceh government is striving to bring them back as soon as possible,” Aliman added.

Detention of Acehnese fishermen in foreign waters is a recurring issue. Each year, dozens are arrested by authorities in Thailand, Malaysia, and Myanmar for alleged border violations or illegal fishing in neighboring exclusive economic zones. Many cases stem from unclear maritime boundaries in the Malacca Strait and the Andaman Sea, as well as limited navigational equipment on small Indonesian fishing boats.

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