Indonesia seizes record meth haul in waters off Riau Islands
JAKARTA: Indonesian authorities have seized more than two metric tonnes of methamphetamine in a maritime operation described as the largest drug bust in the country's history, officials said on Monday (May 26).
The illicit cargo - concealed in 67 boxes aboard a ship in the waters off Tanjung Balai Karimun, part of the Riau Islands near the busy Malacca Strait - was intercepted following a five-month intelligence-led investigation.
The operation involved Indonesia's National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the navy, customs officers and police.
"This is the most significant drug seizure ever recorded in Indonesia," said Martinus Hukom, head of the BNN, during a press conference aboard the confiscated ship.
He estimated the methamphetamine's street value at around five trillion rupiah (US$312 million).
The drugs were found hidden near the engine room and bow of the Sea Dragon Tarawa, a vessel suspected of smuggling narcotics from the Golden Triangle - a notorious hub for drug production spanning parts of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand - across the Andaman Sea and into Indonesian waters.
The ship was intercepted on May 20 and towed to the Tanjung Uncang customs dock for inspection.
Authorities arrested six crew members - four Indonesian nationals and two Thai nationals, all of whom have been formally named as suspects.
The BNN said it was working alongside international partners to trace the network behind the operation.
Investigators believe the operation was orchestrated by a Thai national identified as Chancai, also known by the aliases "Captain Tui" and "Jackie Tan."
The BNN has said it will issue an Interpol Red Notice for his arrest and designate him as a wanted international fugitive. - dpa
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