SIX ARRESTED FOR USED CLOTHES SMUGGLING

Jakarta, April 22 (ANTARA) - Customs officers in Riau Islands Province foiled an attempt by six Indonesians to smuggle in 60 tons of used clothes from Port Klang, Malaysia, on Tuesday.

Spokesperson of the Customs Directorate General Evy Suhartantyo said here Thursday, the boat named KM Putra Baru, with six people on board, was intercepted in Sinaboy-Dumai waters by a customs patrol on Tuesday at 20.00 local time.

"The Indonesian-flagged vessel was skippered by Ramli who led a crew of five. They are all Indonesians," Evy said.

Besides used clothes, the boat was also carrying used tires and beds, he said.

The financial loss the state would have suffered if the smugglers had succeeded in their operation was estimated at Rp500 million.

About the fate of the skipper and his crew members, Suhartantyo said that, along with the boat and smuggled goods, they had been taken to Tanjung Balai Karimun for further questioning.

Last April 13, Tanjung Balai Karimun customs officers had also captured a boat carrying 1,500 packs of used clothes from Malaysia in the Natuna Sea, she said.

The KM Satria 03 had sailed from Pasar Gudang, Malaysia, and was on its way to Wanci in Sulawesi.

The boat's captain could not show valid documents to the on-duty customs officers so that he and his 11 crew members were detained, she said.