REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TANJUNGPINANG -- The Western Fleet Quick Response Team at Tanjungpinang Naval Base (Lantamal) IV in Riau Island Province foiled an attempt to smuggle 10 tons of tin sand to Malaysia.

Commander of Lantamal IV First Admiral S Irawan said here on Monday that the WFQR team apprehended Motor Vessel Kurnia while it was transporting tin sand at the eastern water of Singkep Island, Lingga District on Sunday. "The culprit is suspected in being involved in an international syndicate. We had followed this illegal activity for around two months," Irawan said.

The wooden Motor Vessel Kurnia has a capacity of 23 GT. The tin sand was first delivered by fishing boat, and was to be transferred to the MV Kurnia.

The authority escorted the vessel and confiscated sacks of tin sand worth hundreds of millions of Rupiah. The captain of the boat, HM, has been arrested along with three ship crew members. "All of them are Indonesians," Irawan said.

The investigation revealed that the boat had transported illegal tin sand to Kuantan, Malaysia several times. "There are other boats doing the same thing. We are still in the midst of the investigation," Irawan said.

The crew of MV Kurnia failed to carry legal document on the ship's manifest or permits. "We will not let any criminal violations happen in the waters of Riau Islands," Irawan said, adding that all personnel of Lantamal IV are poised to enforce the law on the local waters.

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