- Arrests by Indonesian Marine Police curb Singapore Strait robberies.
- 79 incidents in the first half of 2025, 11 more in early July before arrests.
- Bulk carriers most targeted, followed by tankers and container ships.
A recent surge in armed robbery incidents in the Singapore Strait has seen a significant drop after the Indonesian Marine Police made several arrests, reports Seatrade Maritime.
Record-High Incidents Before July Arrests
Before the first arrests on July 9, vessel boardings hit a record high not seen in over ten years, with 79 incidents reported in the first half of 2025 alone, plus another 11 in the first week of July, according to the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC). Armed gangs often targeted large, deep-sea vessels, with bulk carriers accounting for 52% of the cases, tankers for 24%, and container ships for 11%.
Arrests Disrupt Criminal Activity
On July 9, the Indonesian Marine Police apprehended eight suspects who were trying to board the tanker Torm Elizabeth, along with three more on land. A second gang was also targeted, leading to additional arrests on July 24. Since those initial arrests, there has only been one reported incident, a tug and barge boarding.
Positive Impact on Incident Rates
“The arrests made last month by the Indonesian Marine Police have had a positive impact on suppressing Singapore Strait vessel boardings, with only one reported incident since the first arrests were made on July 9th. This 26-day incident-free period is similar to the 38-day incident-free period that followed similar arrests made in April last year,” said Thomas Timlen, Senior Analyst at Risk Intelligence.
Comparing Past Arrest Outcomes
“Other arrests of perpetrators in 2023 and 2024 provided much shorter incident-free periods ranging from 3 to 12 days, while the best result achieved in recent times was back in 2015 when the arrests of gang members based on Karimun in November resulted in a 139-day incident-free period that lasted into April 2016,” Timlen noted.
Remaining Gangs Still Active
“If the Indonesian Marine Police succeed in arresting members of the remaining gangs operating from Batam, we could see a result similar to the achievement in 2015, with a significant reduction in the frequency of vessel boardings during the remainder of this year. Knowing that these perpetrators remain at large, vessel operators are still well advised to arrange for appropriate anti-piracy measures on ships navigating the strait.” Authorities previously confirmed three active gangs in the Riau region.
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Source: Seatrade Maritime
