Bakamla Secures Three Illegal Nickel Ore Smuggling Ships In Southeast Sulawesi

A nickel smuggling ship in the waters of North Kolaka Regency, Southeast Sulawesi (Ist)

JAKARTA - Three ships loaded with illegal nickel ore were secured by Bakamla officers who were members of the KN Seahorse-403 element in Mosiku Village, North Kolaka Regency, Southeast Sulawesi.

The total cargo of illegal nickel ore, three Indonesian-flagged vessels, reached tens of millions of metric tons.

"Three ships that have been inspected and secured by KN Kuda Laut-403 include TB Trinity 302/TK Pacific 302 carrying 0.07.507.560 WMT. The ship is loading in an unauthorized Jetty Masselle and is not in accordance with the Sailing Approval Letter (SPB)," said Deputy Expert Public Relations Captain Bakamla Yuhanes Antara, Tuesday, November 14.

The ship was secured on Saturday, and was given to the North Kolaka Police the next day to undergo further legal proceedings.

The next ship is TB. MDM Batola/TK. MDM 04 with a load of :12,333,963 MT Nickel Ore which was arrested on Saturday (11/11), as well as TB. Merdeka 2002/TK. Dirgahayu 3102 carrying a cargo of Nickel Ore as much as :8,500,570 WMT, and was arrested on Monday," said Yuhanes.

The two ships are suspected of carrying out loading at the Unlicensed Jetty Mandes and are not in accordance with the SPB.

From the results of the investigation by the Bakamla law enforcement unit, the three ships violated Law 17/2008 concerning Shipping and Law 3/2020 concerning Minerba Mining Article 300 in conjunction with Article 105 of Law 17/ 2008 concerning Shipping.

"Everyone who uses a special terminal for the public interest without permission from the minister of imprisonment for a maximum of 2 years or a maximum fine of Rp. 300,000,000," added Yuhanes.

In addition, there is also the entanglement of Article 161 of the Minerba Law which states, "Everyone that accommodates, utilizes, performs Processing and/or Purification, Development and/or Utilization, Transport, Mineral and/or Coal Sales that do not come from IUP holders, IUPK, IPR, SIB or permit as referred to in Article 35 paragraph (3) letter c and letter g, Article 104, or Article 105 shall be punished with a maximum imprisonment of 5 (five) years and a maximum fine of IDR 100,000,000,000.00 (one hundred billion rupiah)".

"Currently, the two ships are in the Lasusua Port area under the security of KN. Seahorse-403 with Commander Lt. Col. Bakamla Nendra Jati Prawira," said Bakamla.