Tuesday, 11 August 2026
BATAM | INDATANEWS.COM - The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), in cooperation with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), State Intelligence Agency (BIN), Customs and Excise Directorate General, Criminal Investigation Agency of the Indonesian National Police (Bareskrim Polri), and several other relevant authorities, has foiled an attempt to smuggle approximately 1.3 tons of ketamine.
The drugs were found aboard the Tanzanian-flagged foreign vessel MV King Sun in waters off Batam, Riau Islands Province.The authorities discovered the drugs following an extensive inspection and search of the vessel, which was suspected of transporting narcotics through international sea routes. The joint task force found 65 sacks containing approximately 1,300,000 grams, or 1.3 tons, of ketamine. The drugs had been concealed in the lower hull of the vessel.
The TNI AL disclosed the case during a press conference held on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at the Raja Haji Fisabilillah Multipurpose Building at the Kodaeral IV headquarters in Batam.The press conference was led by Commander of the Indonesian Navy Vice Admiral TNI Dr. Denih Hendrata. He was accompanied by, among others, Kodaeral IV Commander Rear Admiral TNI Berkat Widjanarko, the Kodaeral IV intelligence chief, Commander of Koarmada I, the head of the BNN, and several representatives of the agencies involved in the operation.
The drug-smuggling case began to unfold on August 5, 2026. At the time, the warship KRI Kerambit-627 received information about a vessel suspected of carrying narcotics and heading toward Indonesian territorial waters.
Based on the information, TNI AL personnel monitored the vessel's movements using several surveillance systems, including radar, the Automatic Identification System (AIS), and SeaVision. The monitoring showed that MV King Sun entered Indonesian waters on August 6, 2026.The joint task force subsequently initiated an inspection of the vessel. The TNI AL's Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) team boarded MV King Sun and carried out an initial inspection.
Following the initial inspection, the vessel was escorted to the pier at Kodaeral IV headquarters for a more thorough examination.After the vessel arrived at the pier, personnel from the TNI AL, Customs and Excise, BNN, BIN, and Bareskrim Polri conducted a comprehensive search. The authorities employed various methods to detect potentially concealed prohibited items aboard the vessel.
The examination included digital forensics, X-ray inspections, diving operations, and searches of various sections of the vessel, including its underwater and lower-hull areas. These efforts ultimately led to the discovery on August 7, 2026.The authorities found 65 sacks containing ketamine with a total weight of approximately 1,300,000 grams, or 1.3 tons. The entire shipment of drugs had been concealed in the lower hull of MV King Sun.
Authorities also detained eight crew members of MV King Sun for intensive questioning. They consisted of one Taiwanese national and seven Myanmar nationals.
The joint investigative team is continuing to examine all of the crew members to determine the origin of the drugs, the intended destination of the shipment, the network involved, and any other individuals who may have participated in the smuggling attempt.The examination of the seized electronic devices is also an important part of the investigation. Investigators can analyze data from the mobile phones and laptop to trace communications and activities linked to the alleged drug-smuggling operation.
The enormous value of the prohibited substance highlights the scale of the smuggling attempt that was successfully foiled. The discovery also prevented a large quantity of drugs from entering Indonesia and being distributed within the country.
According to the authorities' assessment, one gram of ketamine could potentially be consumed by up to five people. Based on that calculation, the seizure of 1.3 tons of ketamine could have prevented potential drug misuse by approximately 6.5 million people.The success of the TNI AL, working alongside the BNN, BIN, Customs and Excise, Bareskrim Polri, and other relevant agencies, also demonstrates the importance of close inter-agency cooperation in combating maritime drug trafficking.
Riau Islands Province is among the regions requiring particularly close monitoring. Geographically, the province is located in close proximity to several countries and lies along international shipping routes. This strategic position requires authorities to strengthen monitoring of vessels entering and leaving Indonesian territorial waters.The TNI AL reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening patrols and surveillance across Indonesian waters. In particular, monitoring in the Riau Islands will be intensified to prevent drug cartels from exploiting maritime routes to smuggle prohibited goods into Indonesia.
The discovery involving MV King Sun represents another step by Indonesian authorities to restrict the operating space of international drug-trafficking networks using maritime routes. Cooperation between the TNI AL and law enforcement agencies plays an important role in identifying, stopping, and exposing the networks behind large-scale drug shipments.Following the seizure of the 1.3 tons of ketamine, authorities are continuing to investigate the entire operation. The investigation is focusing, among other things, on the origin of the drugs, the individuals who ordered the shipment, its intended destination, and the international network potentially operating behind the smuggling attempt. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Dalil Harahap | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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