Bareskrim names Taiwan national suspect in 1.16-ton ketamine case
New: Seven Indonesian citizens briefly detained in the Tanjung Balai Asahan waters arrest have been released.
The National Police Criminal Investigation Directorate's narcotics unit has named a Taiwanese national identified by the initials YCY a suspect in the alleged smuggling of 1.16 tons of ketamine hydrochloride. The illicit cargo was transported aboard the MT Global 168 and was uncovered in the waters off Tanjung Balai Asahan, North Sumatra. The suspect arrived at Bareskrim Polri in Jakarta on Monday, 26 October 2026, together with evidence in the case. In handling the case, seven Indonesian citizens who had also been secured during the arrest were not taken forward for prosecution and have been released. The case adds to the list of large-scale narcotics smuggling attempts by sea that investigators at Bareskrim are now examining.