Indonesia intercepts vessel, seizes 2.6 tons of liquid meth and detains ten Myanmar crew

Indonesian law-enforcement agencies, acting on intelligence about a narcotics shipment from Malaysia’s Sarawak, intercepted the MV Ocean Porter, a Tanzania-flagged vessel, in waters off Bengkalis regency, Riau province. The ship was redirected to a customs facility on Batam island, where investigators uncovered about 2.6 tons of liquid methamphetamine concealed in eight drums and the ship’s water tanks. The seizure, described as one of the largest drug busts in Indonesia this year, led to the detention of ten Myanmar nationals who were displayed in restraints at a Batam port briefing.

Officials said the crew and the seized evidence are subject to intensive investigation to trace the international trafficking organization behind the haul. The operation follows a recent interception of the MV King Sun, which yielded 1.3 tons of ketamine and involved multiple Southeast Asian partners. Authorities warned that Indonesia’s extensive coastline and strategic shipping lanes continue to attract transnational drug smugglers.