Indonesia seizes more than a tonne of ketamine from tanker
Indonesian authorities seized 1.16 tonnes of ketamine valued at $192 million from a Mongolian-flagged vessel in the Strait of Malacca this week.
The operation took place in the waters of North Sumatra province, where authorities discovered the substantial drug shipment aboard the vessel. The seizure represents one of the largest ketamine busts in the region this year.
Ketamine, a powerful anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties, is increasingly trafficked through Southeast Asian waters. The drug has become popular in recreational use despite its potential for abuse and addiction.
The eight crew members arrested in connection with the seizure face serious drug trafficking charges. Indonesian authorities have not released further details about the vessel's destination or the intended distribution network for the confiscated narcotics.
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