Indonesian authorities have arrested a group of people attempting to smuggle methamphetamine aboard a small landing boat in the Riau Islands, just across from Singapore.
On July 13, Indonesia’s National Drug Enforcement Agency (BNN) discovered more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine on a small landing craft. Legendary Aquarius The incident occurred off the coast of Karimun in the Riau Islands. Three temporary crew members of Indian nationality with Singapore residence permits are suspected of chartering the vessel, bringing the drugs on board and concealing them during its visit to the civilian port of Johor Bahru. The vessel’s 10 Indonesian crew members are not under investigation.
“The trio designed a special place to hide and store the drugs on the deck of the ship and hid them inside a fuel container,” BNN Chief Executive Martinus Hukom told reporters on Wednesday.
BNN shared a video of the arrest with The Straits Times, which showed the three suspects tied up and helping the boarding team find and inventory the drug shipment. The three Indian nationals appeared at a press conference on Wednesday handcuffed and wearing orange coveralls, with a table covered in drugs. If convicted of smuggling, the charges carry the heaviest penalties under Indonesian law, up to and including death by firing squad.
The three suspects, all degreed marine engineers, had been living in Singapore for at least six years, the Deccan Herald reported.
The ship’s final destination was Australia, the world’s largest methamphetamine market (per capita, based on wastewater analysis).
Legendary Aquarius is a 600 dwt landing ship, flagged in Singapore, transporting containerised cargo mainly to smaller ports in South East Asia, with a good inspection record.
