JAKARTA: A joint operation by the Customs Directorate General, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) and the Riau Islands Police have seized 800 kilogrammes of ketamine from a foreign cargo vessel intercepted in the waters of Anambas Island regency, the agencies announced on Tuesday (Sept 1) at a joint press conference in Batam.
Customs' patrol vessel BC 30005 halted the MV Fuchangxing 1 on Aug 22 based on joint intelligence analysis and interagency targeting, which had flagged the cargo ship as exhibiting high-risk operational patterns at sea.
During a search of the ship, officers found 40 sacks with a combined weight of around 800kg containing ketamine, a pharmaceutical drug classified as a controlled substance, inside four concealed compartments.
Ten crew members were arrested, including nine Myanmar nationals.
The other, a Taiwanese identified only as BNC, 20, has been named as a suspect for his alleged role as a cargo manager for a transnational syndicate.
A second ship, MT Ashley, was also inspected after analysis indicated it was involved in a ship-to-ship transfer operation, also known as transshipment, with Fuchangxing 1. The Ashley’s 15 crewmembers are being examined as witnesses.
K-9 drug detection units deployed by the Customs Office found no narcotics aboard the second ship, but officers seized a vacuum sealer machine believed to have been used to package the drugs before the transshipment.
"Analysis of the route indicated the likelihood of transshipment with MT Ashley," Customs Director General Djaka Budhi Utama told Tuesday’s press conference, citing a statement from the Batam Customs Office.
Bareskrim’s narcotics chief, Brig. Gen. Eko Hadi Santoso, said the investigation stemmed from an earlier interdiction in August against the cargo vessel MV King Sun. Subsequent analysis of the automatic identification system detected another ship that had switched off its transponder and engaged in an transshipment transfer in Vietnamese waters.
"Based on those findings, the joint team developed an interdiction plan from Aug 21. On Aug 24, officers secured the target vessel and discovered 800 packages of ketamine inside four hidden chambers," Eko said.
The 10 crewmembers of Fuchangxing 1 face charges under Law No. 17/2023 on health, which carries a maximum prison term of 12 years and a minimum fine of Rp 5 billion (US$281,507).
Six Indonesian crewmembers from Ashley are being processed on suspicion of violating the Shipping Law. All evidence, ships and suspects have been transferred to the criminal division for further investigation.
Ketamine is an anesthetic classified as a Group III narcotic under local laws, and trafficking the drug for nonmedical use is subject to criminal penalties.
Officials said the scale of the amount seized in the latest foiled attempt underlined the persistence of maritime drug trafficking routes through Indonesian waters.
BNN enforcement deputy Insp. Gen. Aswin Sipayung highlighted the increasing pattern of maritime traffickers exploiting the country’s sea borders by using foreign vessels and crews.
"This pattern closely resembles operations uncovered in the past month. Synergy between agencies is crucial to cutting this transnational narcotics chain," Aswin said. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
