Joint Task Force Foils Smuggling of 1 Ton of Ketamine in Belawan

Belawan: A joint team from the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Customs, and the Water and Air Police Directorate of the National Police's Security Maintenance Agency seized the MT Global 168 vessel, suspected of carrying one ton of ketamine, in the waters off Belawan, North Sumatra.

Eight people aboard the vessel were also apprehended, comprising seven Indonesian citizens and one foreign national.

“The seizure of the MT Global 168 took place on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, in the waters off Tanjungbalai, Asahan, North Sumatra. The vessel had previously been shows with an unusual movements. This information was subsequently followed up with an enforcement operation, leading to the vessel’s seizure,” Metro TV journalist Edy Sembiring said, as quoted from Metro TV’s Selamat Pagi Indonesia program on Friday, October 23, 2026.

The eight suspects who were apprehended to determine their individual alleged involvement in the transportation of the narcotics. Authorities are also tracing the origin of the shipment, its intended destination, and the parties suspected of being behind the operation.

Authorities have yet to revealed the identities and individual roles of those apprehended. The alleged involvement of the crew members and the network behind the narcotics shipment must be proven through the legal process.

The case involving the alleged smuggling of one ton of ketamine is scheduled to be officially announced by National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto at noon.

(Yaumil Tianri Rahmi)