Two Azerbaijani ships caught poaching in Russian zone of Caspian Sea

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against two Azerbaijani ships that were caught poaching in the Caspian Sea.

A RIA Novosti correspondent was told at the press service of the North Caucasus department of Russia's Federal Border Service that the ships had been detained last weekend in the 10-mile zone of Russia's regulated fishing. The foreign ships had neither side markings nor a flag of a state to which they belonged.

According to the command of the Astrakhan Sea Border Unit, the inspecting team had to board the ships of the poachers on the move, as they refused to stop.

The inspectors found 8 tons of precious varieties of fish, 15 kg of caviar and a hunting rifle with ammunition. None of the crewmembers carried papers.

After the detention both foreign vessels were towed to a Russian port.