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Indonesia thwarts attempt to smuggle 166 tons of ammonium nitrate
Indonesia has foiled three attempts to smuggle explosive substance ammonium nitrate from April to August, totaling 166.47 tons with a value of US$25.97 billion.
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Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati speaks to reporters during a joint press conference with Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti and National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, on Sept. 13. (JP/Ayomi Amindoni)
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ndonesia has foiled three attempts to smuggle ammonium nitrate from April to August, totaling 166.47 tons with a value of US$25.97 billion. Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound that can be used as an explosive by fishermen to catch fish or terrorists to rig a bomb.
"We have intercepted vessels from Malaysia off Sumatran waters, with the most recently caught vessel carrying 50 tons [of ammonium nitrate]," National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian told reporters in a press conference in North Jakarta on Tuesday.
He said that the police had uncovered networks behind the smuggling of the substance, which allegedly is being distributed to the eastern parts of Indonesia, including to Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Flores, Sumbawa and Papua.
"We've been following up [the intercepted shipments] with investigation and have arrested some distributors in Central Sulawesi and Tanjung Pinang. We will further develop [the investigation] in South Sulawesi, Flores and Papua," he said. (dmr)
