Two arrested for sand quarrying

JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested two men accused of coordinating a massive operation to quarry sand on one of the Thousand Islands in Jakarta Bay.

City Police spokesman Lt.Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday that the two men, both residents of Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta, were picked up Tuesday while loading sand into a barge on Rambut Island.

Eight employees of the barge were also held for questioning, Aritonang said.

Five barges -- ASO VII, Pour Sea II, Cendrawasih, Pentri II and Kim Seng -- were impounded as well as 500 cubic meters of sand, he said.

Police were still seeking information about the company behind the sand quarrying, Aritonang said.

The raid on Rambut Island was a joint operation between the North Jakarta Police and the Maritime Police. (07)