Fishermen Who Carried Out Fish Bombs In The Waters Of Komodo Island Arrested

LABUAN BAJO- A team from the Directorate of Water and Air Police (Ditpolairud) of the NTT Regional Police arrested fishermen who used explosives in the waters of the southern part of Komodo Island, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara.

"At this time, only one person has been named as a suspect, namely fisherman HJ (43) who is also the captain of the ship," said Director of Polairud Polda NTT Budiarja through the Sidik Panit Subditgakkum Ditpolairud Polda NTT Ipda Suherman quoted by Antara, Saturday, September 25.

He explained that the ship used by the suspect was named "Nirma Sayang", size 13 GT, and came from Sape District, Bima Regency, NTB.

The ship departed from Sape to the territorial waters of NTT. The ship contains 11 crew members from Bajo Pulo Village, Sape District, Bima Regency, NTB.

Suherman said the inspection on the ship found several items of evidence that were secured, namely two jerry cans containing explosive raw materials/fish bombs that were ready to be assembled.

Then two compressor units as diving aids, one pink cable roller for assembling explosives, two binoculars, one diving flashlight, one cotton swab, six regulators to be connected to the compressor, and seven diving goggles.

The perpetrator along with the crew had fled and threw a number of evidence into the middle of the sea. HJ himself plays the role of buying raw materials to make explosives, then processing the explosives himself, and then assembling the raw materials himself.

The perpetrators have made preparations and used motor boats to bomb fish in the waters of Sabu Raijua Regency and Sumba Regency. In the last ten years the suspect has also carried out fish bombing activities in NTT waters.

Previously, personnel from the Polairud Polda NTT I inspected and secured a vessel suspected of frequently catching fish using explosives in the NTT area on Thursday, September 23.

The ship tried to escape, but continued to be chased by a patrol boat who managed to stop and check all the crew.