Ecuadorian shrimp farmers battling surge in organized crime

Shrimp farm in Ecuador, via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWTBXd6yfdw video by Manoj M Sharma

Extortion gangs targeting shrimp producers for the return of stolen shrimp, feed, boats and engines.

Ecuador’s shrimp producers are stepping up calls for authorities to protect them from a spike in organized crime that cost around $60 million (€54.4 million) in 2019 alone.

Producers reported more than 150 criminal actions against their property in 2019, including assault, robbery of shrimp, feed, supplies, equipment, boats and their engines.

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Source: intrafish.com

40 abduction bids foiled in Sabah

LAHAD DATU: Since 2018, security forces have thwarted 40 kidnapping attempts in the waters off seven districts in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).

Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) commander Datuk Hazani Ghazali said this was due to the cooperation between the Royal Malaysian Police, armed forces and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

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Source: nst.com.my

Malaysia shows commitment to security in Sabah waters: Minister

Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamad Sabu has reiterated the country’s commitment to increasing security in the Sulu Sea region following recurring kidnappings of Indonesian fishermen by southern Philippines militant group Abu Sayyaf, inviting all trilateral counterparts — Indonesia and the Philippines — to join the effort.

In a visit to Jakarta on Saturday, the Malaysian politician — better known as Mat Sabu — said Malaysia would increase its efforts and role in the existing trilateral maritime patrols around Sulu and Sabah region, calling on relevant parties to follow suit.

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Source: thejakartapost.com

IRGC-Affiliated Strategist Abbasi: ‘Every Navy Patrol… Should Catch 10-20 Americans’ For Ransom – To Solve Our Economic Problems

IRGC-affiliated strategist Hassan Abbasi said in a video that he uploaded to aparat.com on January 17, 2020 that the IRGC should “generate income” by capturing Americans and demanding a ransom for their return.

Abbasi, who was speaking at the city of Noushahr, gave the example of the $1.7 billion that Iran received for the return of Jason Rezaian and the $3 billion that Iran, he claims, received from Qatar because the aircraft that killed Qassem Soleimani had taken off from Qatar.

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Source: memri.org

Malaysian terror group working with Abu Sayyaf, says deputy home minister

Jason Santos

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Home Minister Azis Jamman today confirmed that members of a Malaysian terror group are in cahoots with the Abu Sayyaf from the southern Philippines.

He said police had first established this in 2018 following the arrests of seven Abu Sayaff men and a Malaysian in separate locations in Putrajaya and places like Tenom, Ranau and Kinarut in Sabah.

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Source: freemalaysiatoday.com

Dutch and Danish frigates to deploy in support of French maritime mission in the Persian Gulf

By Joanne Stocker

The France-led maritime mission to counter Iran in the Strait of Hormuz is set to officially start at the end of the month, the French defense ministry said on Thursday.

The European-led Maritime Awareness mission in the Strait Of Hormuz (EMASOH) is intended to prevent conflicts in the critical entrance to the Persian Gulf, the world’s busiest shipping waterway.

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Source: thedefensepost.com

Indonesia Extends Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force

BY: DIANA MARISKA

Jakarta. The Indonesian government has decided to extend the service of anti-illegal fishing task force Satgas 115 following an evaluation by related ministries and state agencies.

The task force was established in October 2105 based on a presidential decree number 115, from which the name was taken. It was initially led by then Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti and has since caught and blown up many foreign fishing boats for illegally operating within the Indonesian waters.

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Source: jakartaglobe.id

Saudi Boosts Arabian Gulf Security by Acquiring World’s Fastest Interceptor Speedboats

Obaid al-Suheimy

The Royal Saudi Navy reinforced its fleet with the world’s fastest speedboats and is preparing to receive a new batch of combat aircraft. The military boost is aimed at enhancing maritime security in the Arabian Gulf and protecting vital and strategic interests of Saudi Arabia.

On Thursday, the Saudi Navy organized a celebration at the Ras Mashaab military port, located 236 km north of Dammam. During the event, three speedboats joined the fleet of marine vessels.

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Source: aawsat.com

ReCAAP urges mariners to avoid Sulu, Celebes seas after crew abduction

Ridzwan Rahmat

The Regional Co-operation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) has again called on mariners to re-route their journeys to avoid the Sulu and Celebes seas where possible.

The call was reiterated in the wake of another abduction-at-sea case, in which eight crew members were taken from a Malaysia-registered fishing trawler while it was at sea.

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Source: janes.com

Kidnappings At Sea By Abu Sayyaf Militants Persist Despite Trilateral Patrols

Kidnappings in Malaysian waters bordering Indonesia and the Philippines – largely blamed on Abu Sayyaf militants – are still happening despite joint air and sea patrols launched in 2017, a Filipino military official conceded Wednesday, saying it remains a challenge to secure the local seas because of their sheer size.

While the Trilateral Maritime Patrols (TMP) launched in 2017 have had some effect in combating the threat, the region is lawless as pirates and militants reign with impunity, said Maj. Arvin Encinas, spokesman for the Philippine military’s Western Mindanao Command.

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Source: eurasiareview.com