Malaysian police nab pirate gang

Malaysian police nab pirate gang

MALAYSIA: Authorities arrested seven pirates suspected of carrying out a series of attacks on vessels in the Malacca Straits after a high-speed chase off southern Malaysia, news reports said Saturday.

The gang, from Indonesia's Riau islands, is believed to be responsible for several robberies on fishing boats and cargo vessels over the last two years, said marine police commander Abdul Rahman Ahmad.

"Their modus operandi is to enter Malaysian waters, make a strike and rush back to international waters," he was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times newspaper.

The men, aged between 37 and 50, were arrested on Thursday night by 14 marine police personnel in two boats patrolling the waters off Kota Tinggi town following a tip-off.

"The pirates tried to escape upon seeing the (police) team approaching but the patrol boats caught up with them and forced them to stop," Abdul Rahman was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper.

Abdul Rahman said the gang was believed to be involved in a robbery on April 8 on board a Japanese oil tanker, anchored about eight kilometers (5 miles) from Tanjung Pelepas port at the southern tip of peninsular Malaysia. -- AP