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Bakamla foils 86 smuggling attempts this year
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Customs officers tow the KM Karunia, allegedly carrying an illegal shipment of shallots, to Belawan Port in Medan, North Sumatra. (JP/Apriadi Gunawan)
T
he Maritime Security Board (Bakamla) has foiled 86 smuggling attempts between Jan. 1 and Oct. 30 this year, making smuggling the most prevalent crime in Indonesian waters.
Bakamla Chief Rear Adm. Ari Sudewo said the goods that had been smuggled to or from Indonesia were mostly rice, sugar, explosive materials, cigarettes, fruits, red onions and used clothing.
“The area of smuggling activities is along the Malacca Strait,” Ari told The Jakarta Post in Jakarta on Monday.
Besides the smuggling of goods, Bakamla also managed to thwart attempts to smuggle fuel (24 cases), liquor (eight cases), endangered animals (13 cases) and drugs (14 cases). It has also foiled 14 cases of human trafficking.
Bakamla spokesperson Capt. Mardiono said that Bakamla had improved its monitoring of maritime areas.
“The system assists us to monitor activities in our maritime territory, including crimes and illegal fishing,” he said.
Currently, Bakamla coordinates with 12 institutions in the country's maritime sector, including the Navy, the Water Police, the Customs Office, the Immigration Department, prosecutor’s offices, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Transportation Ministry. (evi)
