Baharkam Polri Arrests 2 Vietnamese Fishing Boats In Natuna Sea, 2 Captains And 18 Crew Members Arrested

Baharkam Polri arrested 2 Vietnamese fishing vessels in the North Natuna Sea (ANTARA/HO-Baharkam Polri)

JAKARTA - The Water and Air Police Corps of the National Police's Security Maintenance Agency (Baharkam) arrested two foreign fishing vessels (KIA) with Vietnamese flags in the North Natuna Sea, Riau Islands (Kepri).

Kasubdit Patrol Air Ditpolair Korpolairud Baharkam Polri Kombes Pol. Dadan said that during the arrest his party also secured two skippers and 18 crew members (ABK).

He added that during the arrest of the two Vietnamese-flagged KIAs, there was a chase and finally the two ships with the names KG 9324 TS and 90520 TS were successfully secured by the police.

"KP Bisma-8001 led by AKBP Darsuki arrested two Vietnamese-flagged KIAs while patrolling North Natuna waters on Friday (June 28) in the early hours of the morning," he said in Batam, Tuesday, July 2, which was confiscated by Antara.

He explained that after being inspected, the ship was not equipped with official documents when fishing in Indonesian territory.

Furthermore, Kombes Pol Dadan conveyed that the two foreign ship captains were named suspects for illegal fishing activities.

"From the inspection, approximately 500 kg of fish were also found, a fishing gear in the form of 2 sets of trawling nets," he said.

The results of the catch of the two Vietnamese KIA fish are planned to be sold in their home country.

Kombes Pol Dadan said that from the investigator's calculation, the state losses caused by the two ships reached Rp264 billion.

"These two ships have been active for approximately 10 years in Indonesian waters, due to the illegal activities of KIA with the Vietnamese flag, the state losses reached Rp264 billion," said Kombes Pol Dadan.

The two foreign ship captains were charged with the fisheries law, threatened with 8 years in prison and a maximum fine of IDR 15 billion.

"Evidence can be confiscated by the state to be detonated, so that this can provide a deterrent effect to other perpetrators," he said.