JAKARTA. The Bangka-Belitung Navy base plans to station some of its warships off the coast of Muntok in the regency of West Bangka to help maintain maritime security in the area.

"The Muntok waters have become a place for criminal activities such as piracy, smuggling and illegal fishing," the Bangka-Belitung Navy base commander Col. Iwa Kartiwa said as quoted by Antara.

The presence of warships in that area was expected to help discourage the above-mentioned offences, Iwa said when visiting a Navy post at Muntok on Wednesday.

He said the Bangka Belitung Navy Base had six warships at the port of Pangkalbalam in Pangkalpinang.

Iwa said Muntok needed at least one warship to help cope with possible security problems there.

Editor: Asnil Amri