Gorontalo Naval Base Thwarts Cyanide Smuggling from the Philippines

The Gorontalo Naval Base has thwarted the smuggling of cyanide from the Philippines at Kwandang Port, North Gorontalo Regency, with assistance from the Gorontalo Customs Office.

“Based on intelligence information, we received reports of an attempt to ship CN or cyanide from the Philippines to Indonesia, specifically through the waters of Sulawesi,” stated the Head of Information for Kodaeral VIII, Lieutenant Colonel (P) Andreas Suko Riyanto, in Manado on Monday.

Following up on this information, he said, personnel from the Kwandang Indonesian Navy Post conducted observations and monitoring around the waters of Bugisa Island and Lampu Island in North Gorontalo.

The longboat was subsequently secured and brought to Kwandang Port for further inspection.

Upon inspection, the cargo was found to consist of 60 sacks of cyanide, each weighing approximately 50 kilograms, bringing the total estimated weight to around 3,000 kilograms.

“The potential loss to the state in terms of unpaid taxes amounts to Rp249,135,000,” said the Head of Information.

The cyanide evidence was unloaded and transported to the Kwandang Navy Post. At 06:30 WITA, the 60 sacks of cyanide and the six crew members of the vessel were transported via Indonesian Navy truck to the Gorontalo Naval Base for further investigation.