Minister Susi: Govt to Investigate Interpol`s Fugitive Vessel
19 April 2018 09:52 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said that the ministry will investigate the STS-50 fugitive vessel that is currently being hunted down by the Interpol.
“We will conduct an investigation on the boat with no clear nationality,” said Susi Pudjiastuti during a press conference at the Ministry’s headquarters in Central Jakarta on Wednesday, April 18.
Earlier, the Indonesian Navy arrested the STS-50 just 60 miles Southeast of Weh Island in Sabang, Aceh. Interpol strongly suspects that the vessel carrying 30 crew members is involved in illegal fishing activities.
Read: Minister Luhut Urges Susi to Stop Sinking Ships
The 30 crew members consist of 10 Russian and 20 Indonesian nationals. However, the boat’s official document stated that it should only be carrying 20 crew members that consist of 14 Indonesian and six Russian nationals.
Furthermore, Susi Pudjiastuti said that the STS-50 vessel evaded two international governments, China and Mozambique for suspected illegal documents in October of 2017 and February this year.
According to Minister Susi, the Indonesian government would need assistance from international associations to solve the case. The government has been communicating with the Interpol, Australian authorities, as well as authorities from New Zealand, Togo, China, and Mozambique.
Lani Diana Wijaya