Int`l network suspected behind hijacking of CPO-carrying tanker

Navy Col Hadi Susilo, commander of the Tarakan naval base, said nine of the 11 suspects were nabbed last Saturday (June 21) in a hotel in Tarakan and the remaining two on Sunday (June 22) also in Tarakan.

Five of the arrested men were members of the tanker`s crew who might or might not have taken part in the hijacking while the six others did not belong to the ship`s crew and were strongly believed to be part of the hijackers` group.

It seemed they had gathered in Tarakan to distribute the proceeds of the CPO shipment`s sale in Sandakan and planned to fly to Jakarta soon thereafter as they already had plane tickets.

Eight other men who were part of the Blue Ocean-7`s crew had been detained by Malaysian marine police in Sandakan.

The piracy was uncovered after one member of the tanker`s crew who had been left behind in Sandakan by the others telephoned Miki Shipping company in Jakarta, the tanker`s operator, on Thursday (June 19). The company then contacted the marine police in Sandakan which detained eight of the crew and ...