YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, June 30 (RIA Novosti) - Coast guards in Sakhalin in Russia's Far East have stopped two foreign vessels on suspicion of poaching crab, a local border control spokesman said on Tuesday.

"The Ocean-7 and Yusei Maru fishing vessels [both flying the Cambodian flag] were stopped off East Sakhalin by a patrol boat from the Sakhalin border department of the Russian Security Service's coast guard on Monday," the spokesman said

The Ocean-7 had on board some 12 metric tons of crab, while the Yusei Maru had around 15 metric tons of crab. Both vessels had equipment for catching crab.

Russia's border service is actively involved in tackling poachers in its territorial waters. Last year at least 20 boats, including many foreign vessels, were detained by Russian border guards.