Indonesia Navy Seizes $426M in Drugs Off Sumatra
May 17, 2025 — Indonesia’s navy seized nearly two tonnes of methamphetamine and cocaine worth US$426 million from a Thai-flagged ship off Sumatra, marking one of the country’s largest drug busts.
On May 16, officers intercepted the vessel in the Tanjung Balai Karimun region after it turned off its lights and sped up to evade capture. The navy arrested one Thai and four Myanmar nationals aboard. Nearly 100 sacks containing 1.2 tonnes of cocaine and 705kg of methamphetamine were confiscated, valued at 7 trillion rupiah.
The ship was towed to a naval base for investigation into its origin and destination. Indonesia’s strict anti-narcotics laws, which include the death penalty for trafficking, underscore the operation’s significance. Follow updates on X with #IndonesiaDrugBust or check reuters.com for more.
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