Indonesia Busts Mongolian-Flagged Tanker for Ketamine Smuggling
Authorities in Indonesia have discovered an abundant quantity of ketamine aboard a tanker in the Strait of Malacca, prompting an investigation into its ownership and activities.
The tanker was detained October 20 off Tanjung Balai, on the coast of North Sumatra, after making suspicious movements and disabling its AIS transmission for several days. Indonesian police had already been tracking the vessel for some time, having suspected its involvement in smuggling. The ship had been spotted holding position off the west coast of Thailand in a suspicious manner. Once on board, Indonesian authorities discovered $14 million worth of ketamine in 54 sacks (1.1 tonnes). The crew - including seven Indonesians and one Chinese national - have all been detained pending further investigation.
The Global 168 is flagged in Mongolia and owned by two Malaysian businessmen in Johor. The Royal Malaysia Police were notified of the seizure, and the agency's national narcotics unit plans to bring the owners in for questioning, department director Hussein Omar Khan told The Star. The unit will also investigate whether a Malaysian drug syndicate was involved in the vessel's operations.
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In August, Indonesian authorities busted a small freighter carrying 2.6 tonnes of liquid methamphetamine and 1.5 million illicit Chinese cigarettes. The 10 Myanmarese crewmembers were all detained for questioning.
Drug smuggling is technically punishable by death in Indonesia, though in practice the maximum sentence has become indefinite imprisonment on death row. A moratorium on executions entered into effect in 2016. Courts still routinely issue death sentences, which could be carried out in the future if policies change.
