KSAL Confirms To Arrest Vessels Desperate To Export CPO

The Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Yudo Margono, gave a press statement at Cilangkap Headquarters, East Jakarta, Thursday (28/4/2022). (ANTARA/Syaiful Hakim)

JAKARTA - The Navy will arrest ships that are desperate to export cooking oil, including its raw material for crude palm oil (CPO).

"Because the President has banned exports, it means that ships that are desperate to leave for CPO exports, we arrest. But we are still coordinating with relevant ministries and institutions," said TNI AL Chief of Staff Admiral Yudo Margono as quoted by Antara, Thursday, April 28.

Yudo ensured that his staff would increase patrols to prevent the smuggling of crude palm oil or CPO abroad.

"Of course (increasing patrols). In terms of patrols, we are actually routine every day. I said earlier that there are 30-40 ships every day throughout Indonesia," said the former Pangkogabwilhan I.

However, he continued, the current patrol will prioritize the anticipation of CPO smuggling. In addition, Yudo has also instructed all Indonesian Navy personnel to be on standby at the CPO departure points for export.

"Because we have mapped out where the actual distribution routes for CPO exports are, we are monitoring them because they have been ordered," he said.

So far, the Indonesian Navy has secured seven ships carrying CPO in Indonesian waters for allegedly violating the law. Apart from being related to CPO, TNI AL ranks have also arrested 11 coal-laden ships suspected of violating the law.

"Later we will process it further. For that, with the rise of illegal exports, we hope for support from the community if we find something like this; so that it is conveyed to us so that we follow up," said KSAL.

The government issued a policy banning the export of cooking oil, including CPO, which took effect on Thursday. The decision regarding the ban was made after President Joko Widodo held a meeting with ministers on Friday (22/4).

"At the meeting, I decided to ban the export of raw materials for cooking oil and cooking oil starting Thursday, April 28, 2022 until the specified time limit," said Jokowi.

Jokowi said the decision was made so that the domestic supply of cooking oil would be abundant again and the price would be cheap.