Armed pirates hijack a tugboat in Indonesia, steal crew and cargo

A group of armed pirates hijacked a tugboat and a barge in Indonesia, robbed the crew and stole the cargo on board.

According to local authorities, all 14 crew members on the tugboat Royal TB 17 were subdued and taken hostage before being released safely.

The incident occurred on September 20 while the vessel was travelling from the port of Bagentang, Kalimantan, to Stegen. The pirates approached and attacked the tugboat and barge as they were sailing near Tanjung Malathir.

According to police reports, five masked men boarded the vessel with knives and guns and took control of the crew.

The intruders stole more than $1,000 in cash, 21 mobile phones, nine communication radios, and basic equipment such as GPS equipment, radar units and binoculars.

They also stole a tug rope release device and a batch of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) from the barge.

While the release date for the crew is unclear, local authorities have confirmed they are being detained and receiving medical care following their horrific ordeal.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident and have launched a search for the pirates responsible for the kidnapping.

Police representatives said they are committed to arresting those involved and are working to locate them.

Previous anti-piracy efforts in the region have been successful, with Indonesian authorities also successfully stopping pirate gangs operating near islands in previous years.

Piracy remains a problem in Southeast Asia, with most incidents occurring near the Singapore Strait. But authorities say such attacks rarely result in violent clashes.

Pirates in the region typically hijack ships without contacting the crew and steal cargo before departure. In this incident, the crew reported that the pirates took a more aggressive approach carrying guns, making the incident unusual and dangerous.