[UPDATED] Police probe drug syndicate link to ship seized in Indonesia

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police are working with their Indonesian counterparts to establish whether a drug syndicate operating in Malaysia was involved in the attempted smuggling of 1.16 tonnes of ketamine hydrochloride aboard a tanker seized in Indonesian waters.

The Mongolian-flagged tanker, MT Global 168, which Indonesian authorities identified as belonging to Malaysian company Makmur Marine Petroleum, was intercepted off Tanjung Balai Asahan, North Sumatra, on Oct 20.

Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said Malaysian police were informed of the seizure by Indonesian authorities yesterday.

He said the operation uncovered 58 sacks containing 1,160 packages of ketamine hydrochloride, weighing a total of 1.16 tonnes.

"NCID will remain in close contact with the Indonesian National Police to obtain further details of the case and exchange relevant intelligence.

"We will also seek information to determine whether any members of drug syndicates operating in Malaysia were involved," he said when contacted today.

Hussein said preliminary information received from Indonesian authorities indicated that the tanker had departed from a docking facility in Pasir Gudang, Johor, before stopping at Port Klang to refuel.

"The vessel then headed towards the Andaman Sea, where it was believed to have conducted a ship-to-ship transfer of cargo in international waters.

"The tanker's movements had raised suspicions after it was detected displaying unusual sailing patterns between Oct 14 and 18.

"The vessel was believed to have switched off its Automatic Identification System (AIS) for three days in an attempt to evade detection," he said.

Hussein added that authorities had also detected suspicious circular movements off Thailand's western coast before the tanker headed towards the Andaman Sea.

He said eight crew members were detained following the seizure, comprising seven Indonesian men aged between 25 and 71 and a 42-year-old Chinese national.

The 57m tanker bears the Mongolian flag, he added.

Meanwhile, Indonesian news portal Justisio reported that Indonesian police had identified Johor-based Makmur Marine Petroleum as the company under which the tanker was registered.

According to the report, Indonesian police chief General Suyudi Ario Seto disclosed the company's identity during a press conference at Belawan Port in North Sumatra yesterday.

The report said Indonesian investigators had been monitoring the vessel since August following intelligence suggesting suspicious activities linked to international drug trafficking.

Suyudi was quoted as saying that the syndicate had also resorted to changing the vessel's name to avoid detection.

He said investigators were examining the possible involvement of corporate entities and individuals controlling the international trafficking network.

The Indonesian authorities have named all eight detained crew members as suspects.

The report also quoted Suyudi as saying that the seized drugs were worth an estimated 3.48 trillion rupiah (approximately RM800 million) and could have affected 5.8 million people.

Indonesian authorities are continuing investigations into the ownership and operation of the vessel, as well as the individuals believed to be behind the trafficking operation.

Hussein said NCID would continue exchanging intelligence with Indonesian police as investigations progressed, particularly to establish whether the shipment had any links to Malaysia-based drug trafficking networks.