Malaysian vessel took delivery of 1.16 tonnes of drugs in Andaman Sea
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian vessel intercepted by Indonesian authorities with 1.16 tonnes of ketamine had taken delivery of the drugs from a foreign mothership in the Andaman Sea.
Malaysian authorities have uncovered a shipment of 1.16 tonnes of ketamine in the Andaman Sea, after a foreign vessel was intercepted by Indonesian authorities. Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan revealed that the foreign mothership was likely registered in a Golden Triangle country.
The drugs were transferred from the foreign mothership to the Malaysian-registered MT Global 168 through a ship-to-ship transfer in the Andaman Sea. Such transfers, while typically legitimate, can be exploited by drug syndicates to avoid port inspections. Preliminary investigations suggest the foreign mothership delivered the drugs to the Malaysian-registered vessel, although Bukit Aman is examining the case from all angles to uncover any potential Malaysian involvement.
The vessel, which had departed from Pasir Gudang, Johor earlier in October, made unusual circular movements off Thailand's west coast before heading towards Indonesian waters. Indonesian authorities discovered 58 sacks containing 1,160 packages of ketamine weighing a total of 1.16 tonnes, with an estimated street value of 3.48 trillion rupiah (US$192.64 million). Both directors of the Malaysian-registered company were called in for assistance.
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