Customs brave knives, machetes to board boat

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.

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 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.

Based in Darwin, HMAS Armidale was only two days into active duty when the Indonesian boat was captured.