Inp.polri.go.id - Palangka Raya. Five pirates seized the tugboat Royal TB 17 and held 14 crew members hostage near Tanjung Malatayur, at the border between Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan, on 20 September 2024.

The Central Kalimantan Regional Police Head of Public Relations, Senior Superintendent Erlan Munaji, said on Wednesday (25/9/2024) that witnesses reported that the pirates detained the crew and proceeded to loot valuable items. 

The pirates stole 21 mobile phones, Rp 17 million in cash, nine communication radios, a line-throwing device, a Furuno radar, binoculars, and Furuno GPS equipment, along with the ship's cargo of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME), he as as quoted by antaranews.com..

The crew members of the Royal 17 tugboat managed to escape unharmed after the pirates stole their belongings. 

Chief said that the crew were already questioned as part of the ongoing investigation.

The incident began when the Royal 17 tugboat was towing a barge loaded with FAME from Bagendang Port in Sampit to Stagen in South Kalimantan. The pirates, armed with sharp weapons and firearms, attacked while the tugboat was navigating south of Tanjung Malatayur.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)