|
Oz Customs officers attacked with machetes
Customs officers have braved burning poles, knives, machetes and flaming missiles to board an Indonesian boat fishing illegally off the Northern Territory.An Australian Customs Service patrol boat spotted the Indonesian ice boat yesterday afternoon near the Wessel Islands in the Arafura Sea and fired warning shots. The boat failed to respond and Customs gave chase. When Customs and navy officers tried to board the boat, the crew allegedly used burning anti-boarding poles, as well as knives and machetes, to try to stop them. "The fishing boat crew deployed anti-boarding poles and set them on fire," a Customs spokesman said, referring to sharp sticks that circled the exterior of the boat to prevent anyone boarding. "The crew also brandished knives and machetes and also threw lead weights and burning objects at the boarding party. "The chase continued on for several hours and eventually the Customs boarding party was able to overcome those obstacles and take control of the boat." When Customs and navy officers eventually boarded the boat they found a large quantity of shark fin on board, as well as a global positioning system and a satellite phone, the spokesman said. The boat, with nine Indonesian crew on board, was being towed back to Darwin by navy vessel HMAS Armidale and was due to arrive in Darwin tomorrow. The Australian Fisheries Management Authority will conduct an investigation into its involvement in possible illegal fishing. HMAS Armidale, with a crew of 21, was the first of 14 new patrol boats designed to patrol Australia's borders. Based in Darwin, HMAS Armidale was only two days into active duty when the Indonesian boat was captured. Posted by: God Save The World AKA Oztralian 2005-10-18 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=132527 |