Four hunters detained after chase at sea

Army maritime personnel chased and arrested four hunters after a high-speed chase at sea yesterday morning, the Armed Forces of Malta said.

The four men were first spotted behaving suspiciously off Ta' Ċenċ by members of the Maritime Squadron's Rapid Deployment Team who were on a routine anti-illegal hunting patrol.

As they approached the speedboat it fled at high speed and the team gave chase in their interceptor craft. Despite a moderate force three north Westerly swell and the suspects' 225 horse-power engine, they managed to catch the hunters after a 30-minute chase that ended off Dingli cliffs.

They were detained and found to be in possession of hunting equipment. The men had also been seen ditching a number of items overboard, some of which were recovered, the AFM said.

The men, hailing from Siġġiewi and Mosta, were handed over to the police for investigation.