Bakamla RI Folls Smuggling of 60 Thousand Baby Lobsters in Seribu Islands

Bakamla RI Foils Smuggling of 60 Thousand Baby Lobsters in Seribu Islands Waters

JAKARTA-ASWINNEWS.COM- The Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla RI) through the KN. Pulau Marore-322 element managed to secure two suitcases containing 22 bags of baby lobsters that were suspected of being smuggled around Pulau D, Seribu Islands waters, Jakarta, Tuesday (11/3/2025).

This operation began with information obtained by the Bakamla RI Task Force Team from the TNI Bais Team regarding the alleged attempt to smuggle baby lobsters in these waters. Based on this information, the Bakamla RI Task Force Team immediately reported to the Director of Marine Operations, Rear Admiral Bakamla Octavianus Budi Susanto, S.H., M.Si., M.Tr.Opsla, for direction. In response to the report, Rear Admiral Bakamla Octavianus Budi Susanto immediately ordered KN.Pulau Marore-322 as the closest element to carry out the pursuit and inspection.

Following up on the order, at 23.00 WIB, the Commander of KN.Pulau Marore-322, Lt. Col. Bakamla Adi Poetra Parlindungan, immediately deployed the VBSS (Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure) team to the location of the ship suspected of carrying illegal baby lobsters.

At 02.10 WIB, the VBSS team successfully identified contact with an unmanned ship at a distance of 1.0 NM with a bearing of 252° at position 06°04’25” S – 106°45’32” E. The team immediately conducted an inspection and search of the ship suspected of having been abandoned by the perpetrator.

At around 02.30 WIB, on the ship, the VBSS team of KN Pulau Marore-322 found two suitcases containing 22 packages of baby lobsters and immediately reported their findings to the Commander of KN.Pulau Marore-322 for further direction.

On the orders of the Commander of KN.Pulau Marore-322, the two suitcases were then taken to Muara Baru Pier for further examination. Meanwhile, the wooden ship used in the smuggling was found to be leaking, making it impossible to pull it ashore.

The results of further examination showed that the two suitcases contained around 60 thousand baby lobsters with an estimated value of Rp1.05 billion. Furthermore, the evidence of the baby lobsters will be investigated together with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and is planned to be handed over to the Jakarta Marine and Fisheries Resources Supervision (PSDKP).

The success of this operation is real proof of Bakamla RI’s commitment to combating all forms of smuggling which is one of the main focuses of the Asta Cita program carried out by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, General TNI (ret.) Prabowo Subianto.

*Public Relations of Bakamla
*Ine

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