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