By Roy Denish.
Indonesia meth seizure nets 2.6 tons of liquid methamphetamine from a Tanzania-flagged cargo ship off Bengkalis, Riau.
The Indonesia meth seizure off Bengkalis, Riau, netted 2.6 tons of liquid methamphetamine from a Tanzania-flagged cargo ship in one of the country’s largest drug busts.
Indonesian law enforcement agencies carried out the joint operation with customs officials on the night of August 17. Authorities acted on intelligence and intercepted the small general cargo ship after it arrived from Malaysia.
Officers detained all 10 crew members, who are Myanmar nationals, and seized the vessel for further inspection.
During the initial search, police found liquid methamphetamine concealed inside eight 200-liter drums and the vessel’s 1,000-liter water tank. The discovery marked a major breakthrough in the Indonesia meth seizure.
Sniffer dogs also alerted officers to a 40-foot container aboard the ship. Inside, authorities uncovered 1.5 million illegal Chinese cigarettes in plain packaging without the required tax stamps.
The vessel was operating under the name Ocean Porter. However, database records show it has also been identified as Rain Wind or Rain Maker.
Built in 2003, the 1,480-deadweight-ton cargo ship was sold in 2025. It is registered in Tanzania and lists its owner in Taiwan, according to database records.
The operation came only 10 days after Indonesia announced another major maritime interception. Working with Thai authorities, Indonesian law enforcement seized 1.3 tons of ketamine from another Tanzania-registered vessel, the King Sun.
Authorities took eight crew members into custody in that operation.
Indonesia maintains some of the world’s strictest anti-drug laws, including the death penalty for traffickers. Roughly 530 people remain on death row for drug-related crimes. However, a moratorium has prevented executions since 2016.
With its large youth population and vast island geography, the region continues to attract international drug cartels, making maritime trafficking a persistent challenge for authorities.
