Indonesian Authorities Intercept Massive 1.1-Tonne Ketamine Shipment at Sea
Indonesian police seize 1.16 tonnes of ketamine from a Mongolian-flagged tanker in the Strait of Malacca, marking the nation's second major drug bust.
POLICY WIRE — Medan, Indonesia — Indonesian law enforcement officials have successfully intercepted 1.16 tonnes of ketamine discovered aboard a foreign vessel navigating Sumatran waters. This significant operation marks the country’s second major narcotics seizure within the last two months.
National police chief Suyudi Ario Seto confirmed that intelligence agencies began monitoring the Mongolian-flagged tanker, the MT Global 168, in August. The vessel, which is owned by a firm based in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, was tracked as it traveled from Thailand through the Andaman Sea following reports of suspicious activity.
On Tuesday, a joint task force consisting of police and customs officers intercepted the ship in the Strait of Malacca while it was en route to Port Klang, Malaysia. The vessel was subsequently escorted to Belawan Port in North Sumatra to undergo a thorough inspection.
During the search, authorities recovered 58 sacks containing ketamine HCL, totaling 1.16 tonnes. Officials estimate the street value of the illicit cargo to be approximately 3.48 trillion rupiah, or roughly US$192 million.
Eight crew members—seven Indonesian nationals and one Taiwanese individual—were taken into custody during the raid. While Indonesia maintains some of the most stringent anti-drug legislation globally, including the potential for capital punishment, the nation has observed a moratorium on executions for several years.
This latest interdiction follows a similar operation conducted just over two months ago, when authorities seized 1.3 tonnes of ketamine hidden in 65 sacks near the Riau islands. Ketamine, while medically utilized as a fast-acting anaesthetic, remains a strictly controlled substance due to its widespread abuse as a party drug.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)