Lebaran, KSAL: Maritime Patrol Ships Will Not Be Reduced to Prevent Smuggling

Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL), Admiral Muhammad Ali, stated that patrol elements would not be reduced during the Idul Fitri 1444 Hijri holiday.

Ali said this was done to prevent smuggling. “In order to welcome Eid, we are not reducing the elements on patrol,”

said Ali on the sidelines of a cheap bazaar package giving event at Headquarters, Cilangkap, East Jakarta, Friday (14/4/2023). “They remain alert as usual in several places to avoid rampant smuggling activities. “We prepare them both on land and at sea,” he said again.

Ali revealed that there were no holidays or leave for soldiers of the Republic of Indonesia Warship (KRI) during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. “So there is no rest or leave for members serving in the KRI, especially those on guard duty. “The patrol ships will continue to carry out patrols even on Eid,” said Ali.

Most recently, the Indonesian Navy through the Indonesian Navy Air Base (Lanudal) Juanda Surabaya thwarted the smuggling of a rare, protected endemic animal, namely the soft-shelled turtle of the pig-nose labi-labi species from Juanda Airport to Vietnam, on Monday (10/4/2023) . The disclosure of this case began with officers’ suspicions about several suitcases that had passed X-Tray inspection.

“A total of eight suitcases were carried by the three suspected perpetrators with the destination Surabaya-Singapore-Vietnam,” said Juanda Air Base Commander Marine Colonel (P) Heru Prasetyo, quoted from the Indonesian Navy’s official statement, Tuesday (11/4/2023).

One of the alleged perpetrators was successfully arrested with evidence of 5,632 pig snout labyrinths which were put in a suitcase. Apart from that, Juanda Airport as the leading sector and security coordinator at Juanda Airport also confiscated a passport in the name of David Setiawan, a ticket for the Surabaya-Singapore route, a ticket for the Singapore-Vietnam route, two cellphones, IDR 3,800,000 in cash and 9,000 Vietnamese dong.

“As for the eight suitcases containing 5,632 labi-labi, the price range is IDR 150,000 per head, so it is estimated that the state suffered a loss of IDR 844,800,000,” said Heru.