Ship Used to Smuggle Illegal Tin to Malaysia Seized by Criminal Investigation Agency in South Bangka

Jakarta — The National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) continues to dismantle illegal tin sand smuggling operations abroad. Most recently, the Directorate of Specific Crimes (Dittipidter) seized a vessel at Kubu Dock, Toboali, South Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung.

The ship is suspected of being the first link in the chain for shipping illegal tin sand to Malaysia. The modus operandi involved transporting tin sand from land to a rendezvous point at sea, where the cargo was transferred to a larger vessel before being dispatched to Malaysia. The seizure is reported to be the result of further investigation into a previous case.

“This vessel is new evidence resulting from the development of the investigation. Its function was as a transport from land to open sea, where the cargo was then transferred to another ship for dispatch to Malaysia,” said the Director of Specific Crimes at Bareskrim, Brigadier General M. Irhamni, on Friday, 20 February 2026.

The case is connected to the uncovering of 7.5 tonnes of illegal tin sand smuggling that was foiled on 13 October 2025. In that incident, 11 crew members were detained by Malaysian maritime authorities.

They had been using fibreglass boats without registration numbers and were not carrying travel documents or cargo documentation. After undergoing legal proceedings, all 11 crew members were repatriated to Indonesia via Batam Centre International Ferry Port on 29 January 2026.

In addition to the vessel and outboard engines, investigators also secured a number of other pieces of evidence, including 50 kilogrammes of tin sand that had previously been set aside by Malaysian authorities.

“The evidence set aside amounted to 50 kilogrammes, but in a single shipment the volume reached 7.5 tonnes,” he said.

Furthermore, authorities also seized a number of communications devices suspected of being used by the perpetrators to coordinate. The evidence is currently being analysed to trace the network involved and uncover the principal actor believed to be based in the South Bangka Regency area.

The National Police affirmed its commitment to thoroughly investigating cross-border illegal tin trading practices and ensuring that all perpetrators are prosecuted in accordance with applicable law.