KKP Raids BBL Smuggling Warehouse In Parung Panjang, State Losses Reaches IDR 7.4 Billion

Director General of Supervision of Marine and Fishery Resources (PSDKP) KKP Pung Nugroho Saksono (third from left). Photo: Theresia Agatha/VOI

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) together with the Indonesian Navy's Joint Task Force (AL) again thwarted the smuggling of 49,701 clear lobster seeds (BBL) at Sentra Land Housing, Parung Panjang, Bogor Regency, West Java, with a total value of IDR 7.4 billion.

The Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) of the KKP Pung Nugroho Saksono said that the thwarting of BBL smuggling was carried out based on reports from the local community.

"Based on public reports and observations from the Navy team and us, on September 5 or last Thursday, the fisheries and Indonesian Navy supervisors carried out raids on activities to refresh and pack BBL houses," he said at a press conference at the KKP office, Jakarta, Monday, September 9.

The man who is familiarly called Ipunk said that after receiving the report, his team immediately rushed to the location and found a house that was used as a place to refresh BBL.

"So, these tools were taken as evidence in his house. So, at this house the perpetrators when they brought them from the fishermen were reminded first in this house, so what? So that they are more resistant to being carried and smuggled abroad," he said.

Ipunk said, from the results of the raid, at least 6 perpetrators were arrested. The six perpetrators consist of bosses to workers who refresh BBL.

"In the raid, the perpetrator tried to escape to the roof and was secured by the team and the help of residents. So, until he climbed into the roof tile he was afraid to see (people) of the Navy using weapons. They all ran away," he said.

According to Ipunk, there are four modus operandi carried out by the perpetrators. First, the location is a transit/refreshment and repackage of BBL originating from the location of the arrest/infiltration.

Second, BBL transits at the location. Then BBL is removed from the bag and stored in a basket arranged in a water reservoir. Third, BBL will be repackaged with dry packing and stored in a suitcase.

The fourth or last mode is that the suitcase is carried by a courier to the airport and then the suitcase is carried by plane and smuggled to the destination/state.

"So, there is a pattern that uses air with these suitcases, there are also those who use the sea using a speedboat like the time we made the arrests in Batam," explained Ipunk.

In the raid activity, said Ipunk, his party managed to secure around 17 pieces of evidence, such as 4 motorbikes, water filters, air bubble pumps to toren containing sea water.

"Based on the results of our investment, this activity involved (the perpetrator) with the initials RR as the main boss, then below him was the young boss, namely RR's son," he said.

"We also received other information that the parties involved in the delivery of BBL had made 6 deliveries via the airport route. Then, the delivery had gradually increased by 40 (RI), 50 (RI) and even 100,000," continued Ipunk.

He added that the six perpetrators were threatened with sanctions. Ipunk said they violated Article 27 number 26 jo with a penalty of 8 years in prison.

"We will continue to explore and carry out strict law enforcement in accordance with statutory regulations," he added.