Cargo seized for allegedly smuggling tin ores

A cargo ship carrying tin ores was seized near Bangka Island for attempting to smuggle the tin ores from the island to Singapore, Kompas reported on Wednesday.

The local marine found about 20 tons in tin ores worth about Rp 200 million (US$1=Rp 8,500) from the ship, which was about to leave for the Singapore when it was seized. But only two of the ship crew were arrested as the other four managed to jump into the sea and disappeared.

Some members of the marine corp. said that the ship, which loaded the tin ore in a remote location surrounded by giant stones, was difficult to detect. The ship was also disguised as carrying logs when it was leaving for Singapore.

Tin smuggling activities have been rampant on Bangka island, the country's largest tin producer, due large different in prices on the island and in Singapore. According to the local mining office, between 50 tons and 100 tons of tin ores are smuggled from the island to the neighboring country a day.

The tin mine concessions on Bangka and Belitung islands, South Sumatera are owned solely by the state owned tin mining company PT Tambang Timah but during the last two years, some of its mining operations have been subcontracted to other companies. Many contractors are believed to have smuggled their tin ores to Singapore rather than to the state owned tin mining company. (*)