BEIJING China's maritime police have arrested 12 Indonesians for hijacking a Malaysian-flagged petroleum tanker and for smuggling in Chinese waters, a Chinese official said on Monday. Chinese maritime police intercepted the petro ranger in Chinese waters on April 26 and escorted it to Haikou, capital of China's southern island province of Hainan, after the vessel was hijacked in waters bordering Malaysia and Vietnam on April 16, the official said.

The crew of 21 was safe, the provincial government official said. The 12 Indonesians face charges of piracy, smuggling and illegal entry. The pirates transferred diesel and kerosene from the petro ranger to a Chinese-registered vessel, which has also been taken into custody for smuggling in Chinese waters, the official quoted petro ranger's Australian master, Kenneth Blyth, as saying. (Reuter)