Malacca straits said safer

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Commodore Dalam Sinuraya, the head of the Naval Base here, said that the Malacca straits area is virtually free of pirates, smuggling and other security disturbances.

He explained on Sunday that increased patrols, which include the participation of the warship KRI Teluk Lampung, have ensured a higher degree of security in the area.

As quoted by Antara he said that, since January, his units have caught 35 ships that illegally entered the area, including a tanker which was attempting to move its cargo to another ship illegally.

He said that now the main threat to be looked out for is the illicit exploitation of Indonesia's sea resources by foreign ships.(mds)