Criminal Investigation Agency Seizes Vessel Used to Smuggle Illegal Tin to Malaysia from Bangka

The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) has seized a transport vessel used to ship illegal tin to Malaysia from the South Bangka region.

Director of Special Crimes at Bareskrim, Brigadier General Moh Irhamni, said the seizure was the result of further investigation into the previously uncovered smuggling of 7.5 tonnes of tin sand.

“This vessel constitutes new evidence obtained through the development of the investigation,” he said in a written statement on Saturday (21/2).

He explained that the vessel was used as a transport to carry tin sand from the mainland to a rendezvous point at sea. The illegal tin from the vessel would then be transferred to a larger ship for dispatch to Malaysia.

“Its function was as a transport from land to open sea, after which the cargo would be transferred to another vessel for shipment to Malaysia,” he explained.

He said the case originated from the illegal smuggling of 7.5 tonnes of tin sand to Malaysia on 13 October 2025. The operation was carried out by 11 crew members who were ultimately apprehended by Malaysian maritime authorities.

When caught, they were sailing in a fibreglass boat without a registration number and with no travel or cargo documentation.

He said all crew members have since been repatriated to Indonesia via the Batam Centre International Ferry Terminal on 29 January 2026.

“Fifty kilogrammes of evidence was set aside, but a single shipment amounted to 7.5 tonnes,” he said.

Furthermore, he said investigators had seized a number of communication devices used by the perpetrators. The evidence is still being analysed to trace the network and uncover the principal actors believed to be based in the South Bangka regency.

“The commitment is to thoroughly investigate cross-border illegal tin trading practices and take firm action against those involved in accordance with applicable law,” he concluded.