Riau Islands And TNI AL Customs Thwart The Smuggling Of 25.9 Tons Of Tin Sand

JAKARTA - The Regional Office of the Special Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) of the Riau Islands (Kepri) together with Naval Regional Command IV (Kodaeral IV) succeeded in thwarting the smuggling of 25.9 tons of tin sand in the waters of Pengibu Island.

Head of the Riau Islands Special DJBC Regional Office, Adhang Noegroho Adhi, said that initially information was obtained regarding the existence of wooden ships suspected of carrying illegal cargo outside Indonesian waters.

Furthermore, the Customs and Excise Marine Patrol Task Force, supported by Indonesian Navy personnel from the Kodaeral IV ranks, immediately pursued and found KM. AL HUSNA 07 around the waters of Pengibu Island, Thursday (2/10).

"From the results of the examination, 518 sacks of tin sand were found with a total weight of 25.9 tons or around Rp. 5.2 billion," said Adhang as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, October 9.

In addition, said Adhang, officers helped secure two suspects with the initials S and M. Both were Karimun residents who acted as the captain and head of the KM engine room. AL HUSNA. The two perpetrators along with the evidence were immediately secured for further legal proceedings.

"As a result of the investigation, the tin sand comes from Belitung and will be taken to Kuantan Malaysia," he said.

The two suspects are suspected of violating Article 102A letter a of Law Number 17 of 2006 concerning Customs, namely exporting without submitting a customs notice.

Both face a minimum sentence of 1 year and a maximum of 10 years, as well as a fine of at least IDR 50 million and a maximum of IDR 5 billion.

Meanwhile, Commander of Kodaeral IV Batam Laksda TNI Berkat Widjanarko conveyed that the success of taking action on this case was a tangible form of synergy between institutions in maintaining Indonesia's economic sovereignty and maritime resources.

Kodaeral IV will continue to fully support any law enforcement operations at sea and increase the preparedness of elements and personnel in the local work area.

"This action confirms that the synergy between Kodaeral IV and Riau Islands Customs is a concrete step in enforcing the law, safeguarding Indonesia's sovereignty and protecting Indonesia's natural wealth from smuggling practices in national strategic waters," Admiral TNI Thanks to Widjanarko