Police catch alleged smugglers

Police catch alleged smugglers

JAKARTA: East Kalimantan police have arrested 23 suspected smugglers and poachers, national police spokesman Brig. Gen. I.K. Ratta said.

The police also impounded seven boats currying illegal goods in a 17-day operation in East Kalimantan territorial waters, Ratta told journalists.

Some of the suspects originate from Taiwan and Hong Kong, he said. An investigation is underway to determine if aliens from other countries are among those arrested.

During the operation conducted from Jan. 26 to Feb. 11, the police foiled attempts to smuggle unprocessed rattan, logs, explosives for fishing, tuna and aquarium fish.

They were confiscated from vessels in the Sulawesi Straits, Balikpapan Bay, Tarakan and Sungai Nyamuk, which are close to the border with Sabah, Malaysia.

The Hong Kong-registered boat MV Valiant 103 is believed to have earlier smuggled four tons of the precious aquarium fish locally called Napoleon, from Tarakan to Hong Kong. (bsr)