Not Fishermen, TNI AL Calls 5 Indonesian Citizens Picked Up At The Border Of The Pumping Gang

Three suspected pirates were picked up by members of the Indonesian Navy in Tanjungbalai Karimun (ANTARA/HO-Humas Lanal Tanjungbalai Karimun)

The Indonesian Navy (AL) said five Indonesian citizens who were picked up in the waters of the Indonesia-Malayi border were suspected of being a gang of pirates.

Pasintel Lanal Tanjungbalai Karimun, Marine Captain Amir Mahmud, said that his party thought the five people were fishermen according to reports from the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) Johor Bahru so that his party asked Basarnas to pick them up on Monday (30/10).

"However, after an investigation and coordinating with the Indonesian Navy Headquarters (Mabesal), it turned out that they indicated that they had committed frequent piracy in the Malacca Strait and the Singapore Strait," he said in Batam as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, November 2.

After getting the results of the allegations, he said, his party returned to pick up the people who were still in Tanjungbalai Karimun Regency. However, the two of the five people managed to escape when they were about to be picked up by members.

The party interrogated the three people and found out that they had committed crimes from 2000 to 2023 or until they were found washed away in Malaysian waters.

"From the confession, throughout 2023 they have carried out 10 acts of piracy. The locations are moving, but they are still around the Malacca Strait and the Singapore Strait," he said.

Amir explained that in carrying out his actions, the gang targeted ships that were reducing speed.

"They are looking for information in the information application, there is various information, such as ship speed, destination, ship name, and ship cargo. That is the most important thing, the cargo of the ship," he said.

Currently, the three people have been detained at Lanal Tanjungbalai Karimun.

Meanwhile, those who fled, his party had coordinated with the Intelligence Team Lantamal IV Batam and the Detachment of the Inspectorate General of Koarmada I to carry out insulation in several locations in Riau Islands.