Fourteen Filipinos have been detained by Malaysian marine police for suspected illegal fishing in waters off eastern Sabah, local media said today.

The Filipinos, aged between 15 and 40, were arrested on Monday after a high-speed boat chase for more than one hour, Paul Khiu, marine police chief of the state capital, Kota Kinabalu, was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

They had no travel documents and were believed to have been fishing with bombs based on items - including a hose, rubber cork, bottles and matches - found aboard their two boats, he said.

"It took half an hour to chase the first boat and another one hour the second one," he said. "Not only did they come here to do illegal fishing, they also came to bomb our fish and bomb our corals. Definitely, we don't condone this kind of activities."

The suspects are expected to be charged in court under the Fishery Act which provides for a maximum fine of RM1 million, he said, adding this was the first case of suspected fish-bombing involving foreigners.