JAKARTA, Aug 21 (Reuters) – Indonesia has arrested 10 Myanmar nationals in a drug bust involving 2.6 metric tons of liquid methamphetamine found on a ship sailing with a Tanzanian flag, authorities said at a press conference on Friday.
Below are the details:
• The drugs were found in a water tank and eight 200-litre drums hidden on top of a container on the ship, Indonesia’s National Narcotics Agency chief Suyudi Ario Seto said.
• Indonesia has strict drug laws, with some offences punishable by death.
• “This is concrete evidence that narcotics crimes have evolved from solid forms into liquid forms to infiltrate the public lifestyle through the use of vapes or electronic cigarettes,” Seto said. He called for a total ban on vapes.
• The joint operation, which also involved police and customs, originated in intelligence information analysed by the drug agency starting from December last year, with suspicions triggered by the vessel frequently changing its identity. They finally intercepted it on Monday, August 17, as it was passing through the waters of the Riau Islands in western Indonesia.
• Authorities said the group arrested on Monday has links with previous arrests earlier this month involving a ship carrying 1.3 tons of ketamine, also in Riau waters. Most of the crew members on that vessel were also of Myanmar nationality.
(Reporting by Stefanno Sulaiman; Editing by David Stanway)
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