Police's special operation to curb tin smuggling

Brig. Gen. Togar M, Sianipar, the chief of the police office for south Sumatra region, said Tuesday that the local police would soon launch a special operation to curb tin smuggling from Bangka Island to neighboring Singapore.

Togar said that activities of tin smuggling from the island, which had been on the rise lately, should be ended to protect the local people's wealth.

He said the smuggling of the tin ores from the island, which hosted the world's largest producer PT Timah, was carried out by an organized syndicate that cooperated with illegal tin mining diggers.

Togar said that the local police would also curb growing gambling activities and the use of narcotics and other related illegal drugs on the island.

"We will also cooperate with the marine command to curb illegal fishing conducted by foreign ships," he said, appealing the local people to help the police in carrying out the operation. (*)