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Police in the Riau Islands have arrested 11 suspects accused of carrying out a series of armed robberies against cargo ships passing through the region’s border waters since 2017. The authorities were searching for three more pirate groups active in the area. The arrests were made by the Water and Air Police Directorate (Ditpolairud) of the Riau Islands Regional Police, following tips from the public and the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in Singapore. The suspects were caught in the act of stealing spare parts from the 'Torm Elizabeth', en route from Ras Tanura to Zhongjia, near the Nipah and Phillips Straits in the Karimun district, where ships are required to slow down to between 0 and 5 knots. Pirates took advantage of this regulation to target ships that had reduced speed. Authorities began surveillance and patrols after receiving reports of suspicious activities at sea. On July 9, a team from the Water and Air Police intercepted a boat powered by a 72-horsepower Yamaha engine as it approached the vessel. The police arrested eight men onboard, identified only by their initials: S, I, R, RH, Z, SD, MI, and LA. Police found that the suspects used a 10-meter-long bamboo pole to hook ropes onto passing vessels and climb aboard. Some of them had thick calluses on their feet due to frequent barefoot climbing onto ships at night. They mainly targeted engine spare parts which could be resold for profit in Jakarta, sometimes earning as much as $6,000 from one raid. Further investigations led to the arrest of three more suspects. One of them, identified as P, was believed to be the coordinator of the robbery. Another, F, was caught with four packets of methamphetamine, and a third, A, was in charge of delivering stolen items to a person named Y in Jakarta. The gang used standard online ship-tracking websites to identify slow-moving targets. Before each robbery, they consumed methamphetamine to boost their confidence and reduce fear. The drug made them bolder, even willing to jump into the sea if chased or threatened. Although no firearms were found during the arrest, police discovered a homemade airsoft gun described as a “high-explosive type” that the suspects used to intimidate crew members. Investigators also suspected the gang previously had homemade firearms, though they were not in possession of any at the time of the operation. Along with the suspects, police also seized several items of evidence: a barge, three mobile phones, four packets of methamphetamine, an airsoft gun, and five boxes of stolen spare parts. The suspects werefacing multiple charges under Indonesian law, including aggravated theft under Article 363 of the Criminal Code, receiving and selling stolen goods under Article 480, narcotics-related offenses under Articles 112 and 197, and criminal conspiracy under Article 55. Based on the information collected during interrogation, police have also identified three other active piracy groups in the region, referred to as Groups J, O, and JO. Some members are repeat offenders who were previously arrested for similar crimes. One of the arrested suspects, S, is believed to have been involved with both Groups J and O in the past. 57 incidents of armed robbery were reported in the region in the first half of 2025, nearly four times more than the 15 cases reported during the same period of 2024.

the Filipino seafarer Cocoy, 38, has recounted the Houthi attack on the 'Magic Seas': He was off-duty and resting in his cabin when the captain’s voice boomed over the intercom of the cargo ship: “We are under attack”. He realized what sounded like a “knock” from inside the vessel was gunfire being exchanged by ship security and Houthi rebels swarming the ship in small boats. The crew members scrambled to reach the muster station at the center of the ship, considered the safest place should a projectile strike the vessel. There were speedboats from the right, left and stern of the ship. There was also a bigger boat with around 15 people on board who were attempting to board the bulk carrier, but could be fought back by the armed guards. The group huddled inside the muster station for nearly five hours as the ship’s three armed Sri Lankan security guards tried to stave off the attack. A H0uthi spokesman later claimed that five ballistic and cruise missiles and three drones had been employed in the attack. The flooding had started so it was decided to abandon the ship. The lifeboat was depöpyed, and all 22 crew members went from board. Cocoy and his shipmates spent three hours floating in the Red Sea before being picked up by a Panama-flagged container ship. The 'Magic Seas' was no longer within their sight when it sank.

A Russian crew member of the 'Eternity C'' is receiving treatment in Yemen, Russia's state news agency RIA said on July 17. RIA identified the Russian sailor as Aleksei Galaktionov, one of several crew members picked up by the Yemeni Navy after the ship sank. IThe man, who had sustained injuries in the attack, was said to be in markedly improved condition.10 people, among them eight crew members, and two security guards, had been rescued and taken to Saudi Arabia. The entire crew was Filipino, except for one Russian

The Filipino survivors of the 'Eternity C' were expected to be repatriated from Saudi Arabia in a few days, as was previously the case with 17 Filipino crew members from the 'Magic Seas'. That ship, also Greek and sailing under the Liberian flag, was attacked by Houthi terrorists in the Red Sea one day before the 'Eternity C' was siml. There were no fatalities on the Magic Seas. The death toll following the attack on the 'Eternity C' was standing at nine. Five crew members who were still missing have been presumed dead. Six crew members were still being held captive by the Houthi terrorists. At the time of the attack, 22 crew members and three security guards were on board the 'Eternity C'. At least four crew members have died from injuries sustained during the initial attack on the Greek ship sailing under the Liberian flag. Ten crew members were rescued from the water, including eight Filipino crew members and two security guards. The environmental impact of the sinking of both ships was currently being assessed. The Indian national Augustin Dassayan, a security guard, was repatriated on July 15, facilited by the Indian Consulate in Jeddah. Along with several other crew members, he had been brought to Jizan on July 14, where a team from the Indian Consulate ensured his well-being. Report with photos: https://www.siasat.com/indian-survivor-of-houthi-strike-on-red-sea-ship-repatriated-from-saudi-arabia-3246472/

The eight Filipino crew members of the 'Eternity C' arrived back home on the night of July 16. via flight SV870 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in Pasay City. The seafarers will receive financial assistance through the DMW’s Aksyon Fund, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration’s Emergency Repatriation Fund, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development; medical care from the Department of Health; New NAIA Infra Corp. support under the Department of Transportation; and comprehensive reintegration assistance from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and other members of the National Reintegration Network to ensure a smooth, productive, and sustainable transition back to their families. The DMW was still verifying reports that three of the 13 missing Filipino seafarers were killed. There were also reports that the unaccounted sailors were being held hostage by the Houthi terrorists. Report with photo: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/8-filipino-crew-of-sunken-houthi-hit-ship-back-home