Indonesia foils major drug smuggling attempt at sea and detains 10 Myanmar crew members

Indonesian authorities intercepted a ship carrying an estimated 2.6 tons of liquid methamphetamine off the coast of Sumatra and detained 10 Myanmar nationals suspected of involvement in a major drug trafficking network. The bust, one of the country's largest this year, was carried out by a joint task force of Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency, customs officials, and Riau Islands police.

The vessel, initially identified as the MV Rain Maker, was intercepted on the MV Ocean Porter, a Tanzania-flagged ship, in waters off Bengkalis regency, Riau province. The crew and evidence are currently under intensive investigation as authorities work to dismantle the international trafficking network responsible. The operation followed a similar seizure of 1.3 tons of ketamine from the MV King Sun off Bintan island two weeks earlier.

Indonesia, despite having strict drug laws, remains a major hub for drug trafficking in Southeast Asia, with convicted smugglers sometimes executed by firing squad. The country's vast coastline and proximity to major shipping routes make it vulnerable to transnational drug smuggling.