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Customs officer attacked by charcoal smugglers
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Prime commodity: A vendor shows charcoal many people still use to cook. A Bengkalis Customs and Excise officer was attacked by suspected charcoal smugglers during a recent sea patrol. (Kompas.com/File)
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uspected charcoal smugglers operating in Bengkalis regency, Riau, attacked a Customs and Excise patrol officer in an attempt to resist arrest.
Bengkalis Police chief Adj.Sr.Comr. Abas Basuni said Eko Wigiyanto, the commander of the 15048 Patrol vessel belonging to the Bengkalis Customs and Excise Office, suffered the attack while he was conducting a routine patrol in Tanjung Parit waters in Bantan district, Bengkalis, recently.
“The perpetrators [of the attack] were the captain of the smuggling vessel and its three crew members,” said Abas on Thursday.
He said the incident began when Eko and his four patrol vessel members intercepted two unnamed motorized vessels carrying charcoal suspected to be from illegally harvested mangrove trees. Each vessel was manned by one captain and three crew members.
Abas said the patrol team spotted the two vessels as they were leaving Lancar Bay and were suspected to be sailing to Malaysia. The team chased the vessels and managed to stop them in the middle of Malacca Strait, near Indonesia’s border with Malaysia.
“Holding a firearm in his hand, Eko inspected one of the boats to investigate its cargo. His four colleagues were waiting for him on their patrol vessel,” said Abas.
“Four crew members on board the boat suddenly attacked Eko. He suffered quite serious wounds to his head and was bleeding. His 32-milimeter-calibre P3 pistol, loaded with 12 rubber bullets and 12 bullets was dropped on the deck of the boat."
The two vessels managed to escape arrest and entered Malaysian waters. The Bengkalis Police are investigating the incident. (ebf)
