Officials Seize Ammonium Nitrate Used For Blast Fishing

Kuta (Antara Bali)- Ammonium nitrate smuggled from Malaysia into Indonesia is being used for blast fishing, or dynamite fishing, according to a high ranking police officer.

"The smuggled ammonium nitrate is used for blast fishing," Brigadier General Agung Setya, Director of Economic and Special Crimes of the National Police, said here recently.

He added, however, that he had not found proof that ammonium nitrates would be used for terrorist activities.

Earlier, the Bali and West Nusa Tenggara Customs and Excise Office foiled an attempt to smuggle some 28,285 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, wrapped in 1,200 sacks, from Malaysia into Indonesia.

The smuggling attempt was thwarted in North Bali`s waters, while the illegal ammonium nitrate was being transported to Sulawesi, said Husni Syaiful of the Bali Nusa Tenggara customs and excise office last week.

Authorities arrested six crew members of the MV Alam Indah in North Bali`s waters on Sept 21.

The chemicals were imported illegally without documentation or permits.

The operation was conducted during a routine patrol in Bali`s waters near Timor Leste.

The police are investigating whether there is a link between the smuggling in Bali`s waters and other smuggling to Batam, Riau Islands, from Pasir seaport, Malaysia.

"We will find out who is behind these," he stated.

The ammonium nitrate was not for Bali, but was to be transported to Selayar, South Sulawesi, to local fishermen who practice dynamite fishing, which illegal in Indonesia.

The police detained six crew members identified by their initials as UD, U, MH, MK, ALW, and HD, all of them being from South Sulawesi.

Officials had grown suspicious of a small wooden boat with imported cargo that had not attempted to enter designated seaports to have their imported goods recorded.

The boat had initially carried 1,500 sacks but, because of a leak, 300 sacks were believed to have been thrown into the sea.(WDY)