750 tons of used lubricants seized

JAKARTA (JP): The Sea and Air Police Corps arrested a man and confiscated 750 tons of used lubricants in drums from a tugboat about 1.5 kilometers north of Tanjung Priok Port on Friday morning, an officer said.

Police estimate the evidence is worth about Rp 1 billion (US$135,000).

Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said the man, identified as Hendrik Pakki, 58, was apparently trying to smuggle the drums into Indonesia, and would have probably attempted to sell the lubricants in Maluku.

The police, he said, are investigating Hendrik, who had no official documents on him and has refused to reveal his place of origin. He was aboard the Lohjinow II tugboat.

"Hendrik did not explain where he came from. He only admitted that he planned to sell the drums to someone who owns a fishing boat in the Maluku area ... he also did not want to name the person," Zainuri said.

He explained that the corps received a tip-off from Tanjung Priok residents.

"The Sea and Air Police then assigned Chief Sgt. Dasiman to check the vessel and later the lubricants," Zainuri said. (ylt)