Arrest Of Run Zeng Ship, KKP Investigate Alleged Slavery And Distribution Of Illegal Fuel

Foreign fishing vessels (KIA) Run Zeng docked at the KKP Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision Base (PSDKP) in Tual City, Maluku, Monday, June 3. (Between)

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) admits that it is investigating the case of slavery of people in the arrest of foreign fishing vessels (KIA) Run Zeng. Head of the Investigation Team of the Directorate for Handling Violations of the Directorate General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) Garibaldi Marandita said this was obtained based on information from Indonesian crew members (ABK) who were on the ship. "There are allegations for trafficking in persons. But because it is not the authority of fisheries investigators, we have coordinated, the first is by sending a letter to Bareskrim," said Garibaldi in Tual City, Maluku, Monday, June 3, which was confiscated by Antara. In addition, PSDKP KKP also coordinates with the Maluku Regional Police because it finds indications of illegal distribution of fuel oil (BBM). Garibaldi revealed that his party is also still investigating the involvement of Indonesian citizens in the operation of the Run Zeng ship. According to Garibaldi, the ship has been operating for a year, so it will definitely need supplies carried from mainland Indonesia. "From the results (temporary investigation), the operation of this ship has been several months or earlier there were those who said it was a year. Automatically they need supplies until the change of crew members, then the caught fish are everywhere, we are still investigating it," said Garibaldi.

Previously, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono revealed that several perpetrators of illegal fishing using foreign fishing vessels (KIA) Run Zeng came from Indonesia. The Run Zeng ship was arrested by KKP on May 19, 2024. "What I didn't expect was that actually this illegal fishing was in collaboration with several perpetrators, and several actors were in Indonesia, especially in the Javanese northern coast region," said Trenggono. Trenggono said that several crew members who worked on the Run Zeng ship were Indonesian citizens who recruited them from Pekalongan, Central Java and Lampung. The crew members were lured with salaries ranging from Rp. 10 million to Rp. 15 million per month. However, based on the ABK's arrest, the crew had not received a reward.