Nearly 1.3 Tons of Ketamine: Massive Seizure at Sea

Indonesian authorities announced the seizure of nearly 1.3 tons of ketamine aboard a vessel intercepted in territorial waters, one of the largest drug busts in the country's history. The cargo is valued at approximately $116 million. Intelligence was received in February, and surveillance continued for months until the ship was stopped on Thursday. Sixty-five bags of ketamine were found, and eight crew members were arrested.

Indonesian authorities announced on Sunday the seizure of nearly 1.3 tons of ketamine aboard a vessel intercepted in the country's territorial waters, one of the largest drug busts in its history. At a press conference in Batam, near Singapore, the head of the National Narcotics Board, Soeyudi Aryo Seto, said the cargo is valued at approximately $116 million. Initial intelligence was received in February, indicating the vessel was sailing from Thailand eastward toward Indonesia with a suspicious cargo. This led to surveillance that lasted months, until on Thursday an Indonesian Navy ship stopped it upon entering territorial waters. On August 7, the crew found 65 bags hidden inside the vessel, which after testing were found to contain ketamine. Searches are ongoing to check for additional hidden cargo. Ketamine is used medically as an anesthetic and in psychiatric treatments, but is also widely abused as a party drug. The state news agency Antara reported the vessel was sailing under the Tanzanian flag. Eight crew members were arrested: seven Myanmar nationals and one Taiwanese citizen. The agency is still investigating the cargo's origin, destination port, sender, and recipient. Indonesia is among the world's strictest countries regarding drug use and trafficking, with laws including the death penalty for trafficking offenses, but it has not carried out such sentences for several years.