BATAM - The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) together with a joint team managed to thwart an attempt to smuggle 1,298 kilograms or nearly 1.3 tons of ketamine-type narcotics from the foreign ship MV King Sun in the northern waters of Tanjung Berakit, Riau Islands.
The Commander of the Indonesian Fleet Command, Rear Admiral TNI Denih Hendrata, said that the evidence in the form of 65 bags of ketamine was estimated to have a very fantastic economic value.
"If converted based on market price estimates, the value of the illegal goods reached around Rp. 2.1 trillion. The joint team managed to secure the ship's cargo in the form of 1,298 kilograms of ketamine," said Denih in a press conference in Batam, Sunday (9/8/2026).
Synergy of Joint Team and Intelligence Monitoring Results
The success of this action is the result of close collaboration between the Koarmada I TNI AL, the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), and the Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC).
The Head of the BNN RI, Commissioner General of the Police Suyudi Ario Seto, explained that the disclosure of this case began with intelligence monitoring of the movement of the MV King Sun ship for about three months.
"There is a movement anomaly that raises suspicions. When the ship entered Indonesian waters, KRI Kerambit approached and sent a team to inspect the ship and its cargo on Thursday (6/8/2026)," said Suyudi.
The Tanzanian-flagged ship is known to carry eight crew members, all of whom are foreign nationals (WNA). Currently, the purpose of the voyage, the ship's owner, and the party responsible for the illegal cargo are still being investigated by law enforcement.
Further Investigation and Threat of Ketamine Danger
The Indonesian Navy has confirmed that it is not ruling out the possibility of other prohibited goods being on board the ship.
"Further investigation of the ship, cargo, and documents is still being carried out. There could be additional cargo or other types of prohibited goods," added Denih.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Indonesian National Narcotics Agency reminded the dangers of the abuse of ketamine. Although medically used as an anesthetic or narcotic, the illegal circulation of ketamine has been widely abused in recent years.
"This is a tangible manifestation of the state's commitment to safeguarding sovereignty, protecting borders from transnational threats, and breaking the illegal circulation of narcotics. Never think that Indonesia's sea lanes can be misused to distribute drugs," said Suyudi.
The TNI AL together with related institutions plans to destroy all the evidence of 1.3 tons of ketamine in the near future.
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