NTB Police Name 23 Fish Bombing Suspects

PHOTO BETWEEN/Dhimas B.P.

MATARAM - PoldaNusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) has named 23 suspects from the disclosure of nine cases of bombing fish in the waters of the area.

"Nine cases with 23 suspects were revealed in the January 2024 period to this day," said Director of the Water and Air Police (Dirpolairud) of the NTB Police Kombes Andree Ghama Putra in Mataram as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 22.

The last case, he continued, was revealed on May 16, 2024, in the waters of Rano Bay, Sape District, Bima Regency.

"In the last case of May 16, 2024 in Rano Bay, we confiscated two motorboats along with the completeness of the fish bombing equipment with six suspects," he said.

The NTB Police confiscated 251 detonators, eight motorcycle boats, eight compressors, 65 bottles containing fertilizers, and various complete fishing gear.

"Of the 251 detonators that we have secured, 198 of them have been destroyed in order to avoid things that can interfere with security considering that these detonators are categorized as explosives," he said.

These nine cases of bombing fish were revealed from the follow-up to public information.

The location of the disclosure is in the Sape waters, Bima Regency; Jerowaru District, East Lombok Regency; Moyo Hilir District, and Labuan Badas District in Sumbawa Regency.

The handling of cases for seven of the 23 suspects has now been transferred to the public prosecutor.

"The rest are still in the filing stage," he said.

The suspects were charged with Article 85 of Law No. 31 of 2004 concerning Fisheries as amended by Law No. 45 of 2009 in conjunction with Article 1 paragraph (1) of the Emergency Law no. 12 of 1951 in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the 1st Criminal Code.