The ships were caught separately, hauling in some 8.5 tonnes of fish in the waters off Java Sea late last month, said navy spokesman Colonel Sumantri.

All four ships were crewed by people whose names did not match up with the ship logs and who lacked proper licenses and immigration papers, Sumantri told

The ships and crews are now detained by the navy eastern fleet command at Surabaya in East Java.

WAR.WIRE