Customs patrol boat arrests three vessels carrying illegal rice & sugar from S`pore

Karimun, Riau Islands (ANTARA News) - A Riau Islands customs patrol boat intercepted and arrested three vessels on Monday carrying illegal rice and sugar from Singapore.

The three boats were KM Pulau Mas Jaya 1, KM Sukses Abadi and KM Ikemi Mandiri.

"The three vessels are being escorted to Ketapang port for further investigation," Chief of Investigations and Legal Action of the Riau Islands Service Office Syafrizal said at his office on Tuesday.

He further explained that in the beginning, the Customs patrol boat 15020 at 3.30 p.m local time arrested KM Pulau Mas Jaya 1 in the waters of Batu Berlubang Island, Moro subdistrict, Karimun regency, for carrying 12 tons of rice and 5 tons of sugar from Singapore with Dabo Singkep as destination.

Later on the same day at 7 p.m the customs patrol boat intercepted and arrested KM Sukses Abadi in Jang Island waters, Moro subdistrict, for carrying 1,200 50-kg sacks of rice, and 650 25-kg sacks of sugar.

Still on the same day but at 7.15 p.m., the customs patrol boat also arrested KM Ikemi Mandiri in Tukong Hiu waters, Karimun Besar Island, for carrying 25 tons of illegal rice and 5 tons of sugar from Singapore destined for Dabo Singkep.