The ship’s destination was outside Indonesia, but its modus operandi was to circumvent Indonesian territory.
Batam, Riau Islands (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) is committed to strengthening maritime security along the nation’s borders, particularly in key smuggling corridors such as the Riau Islands, following the successful interception of a foreign vessel carrying drugs.
Indonesian Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Denih Hendrata said in Batam on Sunday that the nation’s archipelagic geography, characterized by extensive coastlines and multiple entry points, presents significant vulnerabilities to transnational smuggling networks.
“This country is an archipelagic nation, with numerous access points that can be exploited. Therefore, strengthening the capabilities of the Indonesian Navy, the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Customs and Excise, intelligence agencies and other operational agencies is essential,” Hendrata said.
The security push comes after joint forces intercepted the MV King Sun north of Tanjung Berakit on Thursday (August 6), seizing nearly 1.3 tons of ketamine.
Hendrata emphasized that tighter border enforcement aligns with the government’s Astacita priority agenda, which focuses on eradicating narcotics trafficking and preventing illegal trade that undermines state revenue.
To combat transnational networks, the Navy is combining routine sector-based patrols with integrated surveillance technology to identify “dark ships”—vessels that deliberately disable tracking systems or manipulate their identities to evade detection.
Hendrata explained that radar systems and specialized tracking applications detected anomalous movements by the MV King Sun before its interception.
“The ship’s destination was outside Indonesia, but its modus operandi was to circumvent Indonesian territory. Once a ship enters Indonesian waters, it falls under our legal jurisdiction, and we will take immediate action,” he said.
Investigators are currently probing whether the MV King Sun used false documentation or altered its vessel name to bypass maritime security measures.
Hendrata reaffirmed that the Navy will continue expanding inter-agency cooperation with BNN, intelligence authorities and Customs to prevent Indonesian waters from being used as transit corridors or destination points for illegal contraband.
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Translator: Amandine Nadja , Yashinta Difa
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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