Suspects, firms linked to 1.16-tonne tanker drug bust identified

Police have identified several people and companies linked to the seizure of 1.16 tonnes of ketamine from a tanker off Tanjung Balai Asahan in northern Sumatra, Indonesia, on Tuesday.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail said police are tracking down the individuals and arrests are expected soon, Harian Metro reported.

“We will arrest them as soon as possible, possibly today or tomorrow. We must investigate this case thoroughly.

“We have identified the individuals and are locating their whereabouts. This (case) also involves several companies,” he was quoted as saying.

Khalid said the ship had departed from Johor and made a stop in Port Klang, Selangor, before travelling to the Andaman Sea, where a ship-to-ship transfer of the drugs is believed to have been made.

“We will continue collaborating with our Indonesian counterparts to ensure those involved will be hauled to court,” he said.

The 57m tanker, identified by the transponder name Global 168, IMO number 9078347 and MMSI 457615000, was sailing under the Mongolian flag.

The vessel’s automatic identification system is believed to have been switched off for three days, and its movements were deemed suspicious.

It was detained after Indonesian authorities found 1,160 packages of ketamine, weighing a total of 1.16 tonnes, concealed in 58 sacks.

Eight crew members were detained, comprising seven Indonesians aged between 25 and 71, and a 42-year-old Chinese national.