BATAM - The Special Criminal Investigation Directorate (Dittipidter) of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police together with the Riau Islands Regional Police (Polda Kepri) are investigating a case of smuggling tin sand from Bangka Belitung to Malaysia.
Director of Tipidter Bareskrim Polri Brigjen Moch Irhamni said the case began with the arrest of 11 Indonesian crew members by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) in October 2025, then deported to Indonesia through Kepri this afternoon, Thursday (29/1).
"So there were 133 PMI who were deported, 11 of whom were ABK who smuggled tin sand to Malaysia," said Irhamni as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, January 29.
Upon arrival at the Batam Center International Ferry Port at 15.30 WIB, the eleventh ABK was immediately taken to the Kepri Police to undergo an examination.
The ship carried 7.5 tons of tin sand from Bangka Belitung which was brought to Malaysia.
Upon arrival in Malaysia, the Indonesian-flagged ship was secured by the APMM because it was not equipped with official documents.
Irhamni said the investigation into the case involved a joint team from the Bareskrim Polri Dittipidter and the Kepri Police.
His party is still investigating how many times the perpetrators have smuggled tin sand to Malaysia, including who the owner is, and how much sand has been smuggled.
In addition, his party is also still investigating how the ship was able to escape to Malaysia carrying tin sand from Bangka Belitung.
"We are all investigating, we are still investigating the perpetrators at this time," he said.
Separately, the Head of the Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Service for the Riau Islands Province (BP3MI Kepri) Imam Riyadi said that the eleventh ABK had been detained for three months at the Immigration Depot in Malaysia for immigration violations.
Regarding the case of smuggling of sand directly coordinated by the Johor Bahru KJRI to the National Police Headquarters to be handled.
"That's why on this repatriation, the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police immediately accompanied. Because there are 11 perpetrators of smuggling tin sand to Malaysia who were deported," he said.
Based on data from the Indonesian Consulate in Johor Bahru, the 11 ABK from Kepri were arrested by the Maritime Agency for illegally carrying 7.5 tons of tin sand from Indonesia to Malaysia.
The initials of the crew members are MTA (23 years old); LOM (24); RH (23); Z (50); A (41); B (47). Then, H (53); S (29); J (39); Za (44); and I (52).
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