Batam. Indonesian authorities have detained a Tanzania-flagged vessel allegedly carrying 2.6 tons of liquid methamphetamine in waters off Bengkalis, Riau, an official said on Tuesday.

Acting on intelligence, authorities intercepted the vessel after it was suspected of sailing from Sarawak, Malaysia, toward Indonesian waters with 10 crew members, all Myanmar nationals, National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Enforcement Director Roy Hardi Siahaan said in a statement.

The operation was conducted on Aug. 17 by a joint team from BNN, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, and the Riau Islands Police, he added.

“We intercepted the vessel at around 6:15 p.m. on Aug. 17, after which it was towed in for inspection,” Roy said.

The vessel was identified as the MV Ocean Porter, although an initial investigation found that it had previously operated under the name MV Rain Maker.

The MV Ocean Porter was subsequently towed to the Customs and Excise base port in Karimun, Riau Islands, for further inspection.

During the search, officers discovered liquid suspected to be methamphetamine concealed in eight drums and the vessel’s water tank.

“We found 2.6 tons of liquid methamphetamine, classified as a Category I narcotic,” Roy said.

Sodikin, head of the Riau Islands Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, said authorities also discovered another shipment suspected of being illegal aboard the vessel.

“In addition to the liquid methamphetamine, we found a 40-foot container filled with plain-packaged cigarettes without excise stamps, which are suspected to have originated from China,” Sodikin said.

He added that authorities were still investigating the legality of the cigarette shipment.

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