Cargo ship seized by Navy

SURABAYA: Two Navy patrol ships from the Eastern Navy Fleet Command seized a cargo ship KM Fajar Kanguru, whose freight included one container of explosives, while it was docking at Tanjung Jangkar waters in Karang Tekok, Situbondo regency, in the early hours of Friday, an officer said.

Spokesman of the Eastern Navy Fleet Command, Lt. Col. E. Ditya Soedarsono, said the cargo ship, flying the Indonesian flag, had sailed from Malaysia and was heading to Australia.

The two Navy patrol ships became suspicious when the cargo ship was spotted in Tanjung Jangkar waters at 2 a.m. without notifying the local authorities.

"The patrol ships approached for checking and found that the ship carried eight containers, one of which contained explosives," he said.

Ditya added that he had yet to receive a report of whether all of the containers held similar material.

The ship's captain, an Indonesian national identified as Dwi Bakti, informed the Navy officers that the ship would sail to Australia at 4 a.m.

Ditya added that the KM Fajar Kanguru, which flew the Indonesian flag, was then escorted to Banyuwangi Naval Base for further investigation. (nur/lup)