Bid to smuggle diesel fuel foiled

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Banten Police apprehended on Wednesday five men for illegal fuel trading on two vessels flying foreign flags.

Banten Police chief Sr. Comr. Baddrudin Haiti said patrol police watched the two vessels unloading fuel from one to another near Ular islet for an hour.

"Later, we found they had been illegally unloading 25 tons of diesel fuel as they could not produce the required documents," Haiti said.

He said that the first vessel, CB Pelican Champion, flew the Panamanian flag, while the second, LM Harmony Take Boat, the Singaporean flag.

Police arrested Capt. Wim of CB Pelican Champion and Capt. Rudi of LM Harmony Take Boat as well as three crewmen identified as Ujang, Dandi and Mamora.

Police also seized the two vessels, including the 25 tons of diesel fuel and Rp 10 million cash as evidence.

"We suspect that they were attempting to smuggle the fuel to Singapore via the Sunda Strait," Haiti said.

He said the CB Pelican Champion was only allowed to deliver supplies to offshore oil rigs and was not permitted to drop anchor in the waters.

Preliminary investigation indicated that Wim was the seller and Rudi was the buyer.

He said the suspects could be charged under Article 55 of Law No 22/2001 on oil and gas trade and Article 327 of the Criminal Code.

"If they are proven guilty, they could face a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison," he said.