A source said the syndicate uses a grab dredger or crane barge to “fish” parts of the wreckage from the seabed. In Malaysia, the source said, the illegal salvage operation has already plundered 19 wrecks, mainly naval ships sunk during World War II. “Their ships have a powerful magnet to ‘fish’ the metal from the deep,” the source said. The rusted metal from these wrecks was sold for scrap to local dealers while the steel was sold to local smelting plants. The owner of the company behind the salvage operation was fined RM70,000.

Source: The Star February 26, 2018 22:41 UTC