Indonesia Seizes Record Meth Haul off Riau Islands

Indonesian authorities made the country's largest-ever drug seizure, confiscating over two tonnes of methamphetamine hidden on the vessel 'Sea Dragon Tarawa' off the Riau Islands after a five-month intelligence operation. The shipment, valued at over $300 million, was linked to a syndicate based in the Golden Triangle region, encompassing parts of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos. Six crew members—four Indonesians and two Thai nationals—were arrested, and authorities plan to issue an Interpol Red Notice for the suspected Thai mastermind. The methamphetamine was reportedly destined for Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian countries. This record-breaking bust follows another large seizure in the same region earlier in the month, underscoring the ongoing threat from transnational drug syndicates using maritime routes. The United Nations reported that 190 tonnes of methamphetamine were seized across East and Southeast Asia in 2023, reflecting the scale of the regional trafficking problem.