Baharkam Polri Captures 2 Vietnamese Fishing Boats In Natuna Waters

Two foreign fishing vessels with Vietnamese flags were caught by Baharkam Polri and taken to Batam, Wednesday (25/10). (ANTARA/Yude)

The Water and Air Police Corps of the National Police's Security Maintenance Agency (KorpolairudBaharkamPolri) arrested two foreign fishing vessels with Vietnamese flags, which illegally caught fish or illegal fishing in the North Natuna Waters.

Head of Sub-Directorate for Gakkum Korpolairud Baharkam Polri Kombes I Wayan Supartha Yadnya said that during the arrest his party also secured two skippers and 39 crew members (ABK).

"KP. Bisma 8001 made arrests of two foreign fishing vessels with Vietnamese flags on Sunday, October 22 in North Natuna Waters. When they were arrested, they were fishing," he said in Batam, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, October 25.

The arrests of the two ships, he said, began with information from intelligence and the local community. After being arrested and examined, it was discovered that the two foreign fishing vessels did not have a valid ship document or did not have a fishing permit in Indonesian waters.

From the results of the inspection, the ship caught fish using a trawl fishing net and had already obtained approximately 650 kilograms of mixed fish.

From these arrests, two captains, namely Ha Van Khoi and Dang Van Binh, were named as suspects.

"The fish caught, they plan to sell in Vietnam," he explained.

The ship turned out to have been in action in Indonesian waters for 15 years until it was finally caught. During that time, they tricked the officers by changing their name or code to AIS, using the name Indonesia when fishing.

"From these illegal fishing activities, state losses reached Rp288 billion, calculated from 15 years of operation," he said.

For evidence in the form of two fishing vessels and case files for the two suspects and 39 crew members, it was then handed over to the Batam Marine and Fisheries Resources Protection Base (PSDKP).