Indonesia foils major drug smuggling attempt at sea and detains 10 Myanmar crew members

Indonesian authorities seized approximately 2.6 tons of liquid methamphetamine from a ship, the MV Ocean Porter, off Sumatra on Monday. Ten Myanmar nationals were detained, suspected of involvement in an international trafficking network. The seizure, one of the largest drug busts in Indonesia this year, followed intelligence about the vessel transporting narcotics from Malaysia. This operation occurred less than two weeks after a separate bust involving 1.3 tons of ketamine. Indonesian officials highlighted the country's vulnerability to drug smuggling due to its extensive coastline and busy shipping routes, emphasizing ongoing efforts to disrupt transnational trafficking networks.

Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency, in a joint operation with customs officials, seized 2.6 tonnes of liquid methamphetamine from a Tanzanian-flagged vessel. The bust occurred late on Monday near Bengkalis in Riau province. The agency had received intelligence that the vessel, sailing from Sarawak, Malaysia, through the Andaman Sea, might be carrying narcotics to Indonesia. The ship, identified as the MV Rain Maker, was reportedly sailing under a fake name. Ten crew members were arrested in connection with the seizure, which is described as one of Indonesia's largest drug busts.