Eyewitness News – BATAM
A joint task force comprising the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Customs and Excise, and the Riau Islands Regional Police (Polda Kepri) has intercepted a foreign vessel carrying a massive shipment of methamphetamine in Riau waters.
The vessel, identified as the MV Ocean Porter, was intercepted in the waters of Tanjung Parit, Bengkalis Regency, Riau, on Monday (Aug 17) at around 6:00 PM local time (WIB).
Head of Public Relations for the Riau Islands Police, Sr. Comr. Nona Pricillia, confirmed the operation, stating that the bust was carried out through a coordinated effort among BNN, Polda Kepri, and Customs.
”That is correct. This bust is the result of a joint operation between BNN, Polda Kepri, and Customs,” Nona said when met at the Regional Police Headquarters on Tuesday (Aug 18).
During the operation, authorities also detained several individuals aboard the vessel. Preliminary reports indicate that 10 crew members were taken into custody, all of whom are Myanmar nationals.
She noted that the vessel was allegedly transporting more than one ton of methamphetamine in liquid form. Following the interception, the MV Ocean Porter was towed to the Customs Base Port in Karimun for further investigation. K9 sniffer dogs will also be deployed during the search to assist officers in locating suspected illicit narcotics.
In addition to the vessel, authorities detained all 10 crew members on board, confirmed to be citizens of Myanmar.The specific roles of each crew member in the alleged drug smuggling operation remain under investigation. Detectives are currently questioning the crew to determine who is responsible for the cargo and how the illicit drugs were loaded onto the vessel.
Reporter : Daniel Herry
