Batam joint team foils Rp11 billion lobster larvae smuggling attempt in Kepri waters
00:00
00:00
- A joint Customs and Navy team in Kepri intercepted a speedboat carrying 104,082 lobster larvae worth Rp11 billion near Batam after a chase and resistance by suspects.
- The suspects allegedly tried to obstruct officers by throwing styrofoam boxes of evidence and fleeing toward Malaysia before running the boat aground and escaping.
- Authorities cited multiple alleged legal violations, while the seized larvae were transferred to BPBL Batam for cultivation.
A joint team from the Riau Islands (Kepri) regional office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) and the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) thwarted an attempt to smuggle 104,082 lobster larvae, locally known as benih bening lobster (BBL), worth an estimated Rp11 billion in the waters off Teluk Bakau Island, Batam City.
The head of DJBC’s Kepri regional office, Sodikin, said in Batam on Wednesday that the operation followed a closed information-sharing channel and coordinated surveillance by Customs and Excise, Koderal IV Batam and the Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance (PSDKP) unit under the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry (KKP), amid indications of an attempted illegal shipment of Indonesia’s marine resources.
“A fast boat, an HSC with four 200-horsepower Yamaha engines, departed from Karimun regency. Our patrol vessel moved to intercept it, and the HSC crew resisted,” Sodikin said.
He said the suspects tried to fend off officers by throwing evidence—lobsters packed in styrofoam boxes—toward the patrol boat. They then increased speed and fled with the bow heading toward Malaysia.
The joint team issued warnings and took measured action to ensure safety, forcing the HSC to run aground in Karimun regency.
The suspects continued trying to escape, attempting to operate the vessel again so it could move and evade officers. “They fled and managed to beach the boat at Teluk Bakau Island, Batam,” he said.
After grounding the boat, the suspects fled on foot and left behind 21 boxes containing the BBL.
Sodikin said the alleged smuggling violated Article 102(a) of Law No. 17/2006 on Customs; Article 88 in conjunction with Article 16(1) and Article 92 in conjunction with Article 26 of Law No. 31/2004 on Fisheries, as amended by Law No. 44/2009 on Fisheries.
It also violated Article 87 in conjunction with Article 34 of Law No. 21/2019 on Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine.
Rear Adm. Ketut Budiantara, deputy commander of Koderal IV of the Indonesian Navy, said law enforcement agencies and the Navy remained committed to protecting Indonesia’s natural wealth in Kepri from illegal activities.
He said the interception demonstrated strong inter-agency coordination to safeguard Kepri, which has strategic characteristics due to its proximity to several neighboring countries.
“Hopefully, law enforcement action like this will create a deterrent effect so smugglers will think twice before attempting to break the law,” he said.
The 104,082 BBL were later handed over to the Batam Marine Aquaculture Fisheries Center (BPBL Batam) for cultivation.
Indonesianpost.com | Antara
