PUTRAJAYA: Police have identified several individuals suspected of being linked to the attempted smuggling of 1.16 tonnes of ketamine aboard a Malaysian-owned tanker in Indonesian waters.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail said police were tracking down the individuals and would strive to make arrests as soon as possible.
Eight crew members, comprising seven Indonesians and a Chinese national, have already been arrested.
"We have identified the individuals and are trying to locate them. The companies and those linked to the case are also known to us,” he told the media after attending the 26th convocation ceremony of Spectrum International University College here on Sunday (Oct 25).
Mohd Khalid said investigations found that the tanker, MT Global 168, made unusual movements between Oct 14 and 18 before it was detained in waters off Tanjung Balai Asahan, Indonesia on Tuesday (Oct 20).
It had departed from Johor for Port Klang before heading towards the Andaman Sea, which is believed to be where the ship-to-ship transfer took place.
To evade the authorities, the vessel's crew allegedly switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) for three days.
The vessel’s decision to turn back and enter Indonesian waters provided the authorities there with an opportunity to conduct investigations and make arrests.
In this regard, Mohd Khalid said Malaysia would continue to cooperate with the Indonesian authorities to ensure that all those involved were brought to justice.
He added that the MT Global 168 was owned by a Malaysian-registered company headquartered in Johor Baru, but was sailing under the Mongolian flag.
He said more information was still needed to assist the investigation, including matters concerning ownership of the vessel, as the case involved a very large quantity of drugs. – Bernama
