Naval Base Dumai-Koarmada I seizes 200 tonnes of charcoal in Meranti Waters
Dumai, Riau — The Naval Base Dumai, together with the Intelmar Task Force of the First Fleet Command (Koarmada I), has seized the transport of 200 tonnes of mangrove charcoal without official documentation aboard the vessel KLM Samudera Indah Jaya (GT 172) in the waters of the Meranti Archipelago, Riau province.
Dumai Naval Base Commander Colonel Abdul Harris stated that the charcoal transport was suspected of violating the Environmental Protection and Management Law due to the absence of a Forest Product Legality Certificate (SKSHH) and permits from the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Indonesia.
“The enforcement action against this forest crime offence represents a tangible commitment by the Navy in preserving environmental sustainability while upholding the law in the waters within national jurisdiction,” Colonel Harris said during a press conference in Dumai on Wednesday.
According to Colonel Abdul Harris, the initial disclosure came when the Intelmar Operations Task Force Team and personnel from the Dumai Base Water Police received information from the Tanjung Buton Maritime Observer Post in the Siak area. The team immediately moved towards the Panjang Strait waters of Meranti using sea radar.
From field investigations, the KLM Samudera Indah Jaya was found moored in the waters of Nyirih River in the Meranti Archipelago on Thursday (5 March) at 10:44 local time.
At approximately 17:20 local time, the vessel was observed beginning to leave its mooring location, and the joint team immediately pursued and stopped the KLM Samudera Indah Jaya to inspect its documents and cargo.
For further examination, the vessel carrying mangrove charcoal without formal government authorisation was then escorted to the Navy Jetty in the Bangsal Aceh district of Dumai.
The Dumai Naval Base Commander added that this enforcement action represented a direct order from Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali to strengthen vigilance across all units and show zero tolerance for any form of legal violation and maritime crime.
The transport of mangrove charcoal without permits not only causes economic loss to the state but also threatens coastal ecosystems and environmental sustainability, particularly mangrove areas that are vital for coastal protection and marine habitat.
In line with the Navy Chief’s directive, First Fleet Command Deputy Commander Rear Admiral Deny Septiana emphasised that the Navy’s responsibilities extend beyond safeguarding maritime sovereignty to include securing state assets, maintaining economic and environmental security.
This commitment is realised through the Navy’s readiness to anticipate all legal violations in Indonesian national waters by tightening marine security operations to prevent all forms of maritime crime, including piracy, smuggling and jurisdictional violations.