Navy detains Thai boats for poaching

Navy detains Thai boats for poaching

MEDAN, North Sumatra: The Navy arrested on Thursday two Thailand-
flagged trawlers, along with the vessels' 28 crew members while
they were poaching in the waters of Karang Barus in North
Tapanuli regency.

The two boats were caught after the a Navy patrol boat pursued
them for about one hour.

The crew members of the foreign vessels stopped their boats
and surrendered only after the patrol boat fired warning shots.

The Navy patrol, commanded by Second. Lt. Rachman, seized
hundreds of tons of fresh fish from the trawlers.

The foreign vessels were nabbed thanks to information supplied
by locals, said the commander of the Sibolga Naval Base, Col.
Andy Achdar.

He said that the 28 crew members, all of whom were from
Thailand, were being held in Sibolga jail. -- JP