Customs destroys fishing boats

TWO foreign fishing boats were destroyed by Customs officers in north Australian waters today and their crew of 16 illegal fishermen have been detained. The Customs patrol boat Corio Bay was sent to the Gulf of Carpentaria after locals reported illegal fishermen in the area. The Corio Bay, working with a Coastwatch surveillance aircraft, intercepted an Indonesian-flagged vessel in Cape Keerweer, south west of Weipa, about noon today, Customs said in a statement.