Batam, Batamnews - Dozens of pirates looted a barge loaded with scrap iron from Singapore in Batuampar waters, Batam, Riau Islands on Thursday (3/11/2022) night.

The robbery happened at the coordinates 01'09'23:09 N 103'59'38'60 E of the barge dragged by a tugboat headed to Tanjung Priok, Jakarta.

Kepolisian Perairan dan Udara or Polairud (Polairud- Marine and Air Police) Director of the Riau Islands Police, Chief Commissioner of Police Boy Herlambang, said the pirates looted the barge's load using several boats.

"There were about 20 speedboats that came to the tugboat TK. Bina Marine 81 in Batuampar waters," said Boy, Saturday (5/11/2022). 

The pirates told the tugboat's captain to stop and buy scrap metal. However, they refused.

The Singapore Police Coast Guard detected the pirates' actions. The Singapore Coast Guard immediately informed the incident to the Riau Islands Police. 

"Our call center received information from the Singapore Coast Guard because they detected the pirates' actions," he said.

Based on this information, a joint team of Direktorat Kepolisian Perairan dan Udara or Ditpolairud (Ditpolairud- Directorate of Marine and Air Police) of the Riau Islands region together with Korps Kepolisian Air dan Udara Badan Pemeliharaan Keamanan or Koorpolairud Baharkam (Koorpolairud Baharkam- Marine and Air Police Corps Security Services Agency) Police Headquarters went directly to the location of the incident. At that time, the pirates knew the officers' arrival and immediately escaped. 

"There were about 20 pancung speedboats at that time, which we secured as many as 4 pancung speedboats along with evidence and 7 suspects," he explained.

For information, the 7 suspects are Desmanto (35), Arlan (19), Aljupri (33), Syahbandi (43), Usnadi (46), Sada (22), and Didi Supadi (34). 

They are from Tanjunguma, Lubuk Baja sub-district. They are currently detained at Ditpolairud of the Riau Islands Regional Police to conduct further investigations.