TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Navy’s Western Fleet (Koarmabar) commander Admiral Aan Kurnia said his office has arrested foreign boats that conducted illegal activities in the Natuna waters, Riau Islands. “In the past four days, two Vietnamese and one Singaporean boats have been arrested for alleged smuggling,” he said at his office in Jakarta on Monday, October 17, 2016.
Aan went on to say that Indonesian warship Silaspapare-386 nabbed two Vietnamese boats on October 13 for using an illegal fishing net. The boat carried 15 Vietnamese crew members.
According to Aan, authorities have taken the Vietnamese boats to Ranai Naval Base, Riau Islands, for further investigation.
Whereas a Singaporean boat has been captured for smuggling Singaporean goods to Indonesia, namely electronics, furniture, and glassware sets. “The illegal items were going to be transferred to Sekupang Pier, Batam,” he said.
Koarmabar officers have arrested the boat’s 12 Indonesian crew members. The crew members said that all of the items being carried were owned by a Singaporean. They also fail to show operational permit. “It’s being investigated by Batam Custom & Excise [Office],” he said.
YOHANES PASKALIS
