Indonesian Navy Apprehends Six Alleged Pirates

The Indonesian Navy has apprehended six alleged pirates planning operations in the Malacca Straits.

The men were caught by the Western Fleet Quick Response Team from the Indonesian Navy’s Tanjung Pinang base on Monday in the waters around the Riau Islands in Batam.

They are suspected of plotting attacks on tankers passing through eastern Malaysia.

The arrests followed a tip-off, and at least three of the men apprehended are known pirates.

The Jakarta Post lists the six men as: Piyan Sinaga, the boat owner, Angki, the skipper, Feri S. Lubis, an assistant to the skipper, and crew members Udin Ali, Teguh Adrianto and Riswan.

The ReCAAP's November report states that there were7 7 piracy or robbery incidents for the whole of Asia in the first 11 months of this year, a 60 percent annual drop from 193.

Almost half the world's total seaborne trade passes through the strait each year.