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Indonesian navy busts Thai cargo ship filled with suspected slave-caught fish Indonesian navy busts Thai cargo ship filled with suspected slave-caught fish
(1 day later)
A massive refrigerated cargo ship believed to be loaded with slave-caught fish was seized by Indonesia’s navy and brought to shore, officials said on Thursday.A massive refrigerated cargo ship believed to be loaded with slave-caught fish was seized by Indonesia’s navy and brought to shore, officials said on Thursday.
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The Thai-owned Silver Sea 2 was located late on Wednesday and escorted about 130km (80 miles) to a naval base in Sabang on the Indonesian archipelago’s northwestern tip, said Colonel Sujatmiko, the regional naval chief.The Thai-owned Silver Sea 2 was located late on Wednesday and escorted about 130km (80 miles) to a naval base in Sabang on the Indonesian archipelago’s northwestern tip, said Colonel Sujatmiko, the regional naval chief.
A satellite beacon signal was used to trace the ship’s path from Papua New Guinea waters, where it was also being sought, into neighbouring Indonesia. The navy then spent a week trying to catch it.A satellite beacon signal was used to trace the ship’s path from Papua New Guinea waters, where it was also being sought, into neighbouring Indonesia. The navy then spent a week trying to catch it.
Related: Slave labour producing prawns for supermarkets in US, UK: your questions answered
“I’m so overwhelmed with happiness,” said the fisheries minister, Susi Pudjiastuti. “It was almost impossible but we did it.”“I’m so overwhelmed with happiness,” said the fisheries minister, Susi Pudjiastuti. “It was almost impossible but we did it.”
It is the same 2,000-tonne vessel captured in a high-resolution satellite photo last month in Papua New Guinea showing its hold open and two fishing trawlers tethered to each side, loading fish.It is the same 2,000-tonne vessel captured in a high-resolution satellite photo last month in Papua New Guinea showing its hold open and two fishing trawlers tethered to each side, loading fish.
Related: Slave labour producing prawns for supermarkets in US, UK: your questions answered
The smaller wooden vessels were identified as the ones that fled a remote Indonesian island earlier this year, crewed by enslaved men from poor south-east Asian countries who are routinely beaten and forced to work nearly nonstop with little or no pay.The smaller wooden vessels were identified as the ones that fled a remote Indonesian island earlier this year, crewed by enslaved men from poor south-east Asian countries who are routinely beaten and forced to work nearly nonstop with little or no pay.
Media investigations revealed that their catch reaches the supply chains of some of the biggest grocery stores and food companies in the US.Media investigations revealed that their catch reaches the supply chains of some of the biggest grocery stores and food companies in the US.
Pudjiastuti freed hundreds of men earlier this year – including some locked in a cage – from the island village of Benjina. But 34 boats loaded with slaves escaped before authorities arrived. They remain missing.Pudjiastuti freed hundreds of men earlier this year – including some locked in a cage – from the island village of Benjina. But 34 boats loaded with slaves escaped before authorities arrived. They remain missing.
Pudjiastuti, who put a moratorium on all foreign fishing last year, said the Silver Sea 2 captain would be questioned and an investigation launched into suspected human trafficking, offloading at sea and transport of illegal fish.Pudjiastuti, who put a moratorium on all foreign fishing last year, said the Silver Sea 2 captain would be questioned and an investigation launched into suspected human trafficking, offloading at sea and transport of illegal fish.
Workers who recently returned home to Myanmar after being enslaved on one of the trawlers that fled to Papua New Guinea said they regularly loaded fish on to Silver Sea cargo ships, which ferried the catch back to Thailand to be processed and fed into the country’s seafood export business, which is worth billions annually.Workers who recently returned home to Myanmar after being enslaved on one of the trawlers that fled to Papua New Guinea said they regularly loaded fish on to Silver Sea cargo ships, which ferried the catch back to Thailand to be processed and fed into the country’s seafood export business, which is worth billions annually.
The industry runs off the backs of poor people from its own country and migrants from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos who are often sold, kidnapped and tricked on to trawlers.The industry runs off the backs of poor people from its own country and migrants from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos who are often sold, kidnapped and tricked on to trawlers.
Silver Sea Reefer Co, which owns at least nine refrigerated cargo ships in Thailand, has said it is not involved with the fishermen.Silver Sea Reefer Co, which owns at least nine refrigerated cargo ships in Thailand, has said it is not involved with the fishermen.