Police Release 7 Indonesian Crew Members of Tanker Carrying 1.16 Tons of Ketamine Due to Lack of Malicious Intent

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesian police have released seven Indonesian citizens (WNI) who were crew members of the MT Global 168 tanker carrying 1.16 tons of Ketamine HCl, citing the absence of malicious intent (mens rea) and their lack of awareness regarding the ship's cargo.

"We could not find any mens rea in those seven individuals," stated Deputy Director of Narcotics Crime (Wadirnarkoba) of the National Police, Kombes Cahyo Hutomo, during a press conference at the National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta on Monday night (26/10/2026).

The seven Indonesians were released by the police after being arrested along with a foreign national from Taiwan with the initials YCY.

"The witness has been returned to us. They have been released," Cahyo added.

Meanwhile, the Taiwanese national YCY has now become a suspect in the case involving the 1.16 tons of Ketamine.

7 WNI Recruited to Transport Oil

Cahyo explained that the seven WNI were completely unaware that the ship was also transporting ketamine.

According to the agent who recruited them, the seven WNI were hired to transport oil.

"We have named one suspect, YCY. The seven Indonesian citizens are crew members in transition," he clarified.

"According to the request of the recruiting agent, they were to transport oil," Cahyo continued.

Thus, the National Police concluded that only YCY is considered a suspect, as he is directly associated with the ketamine being transported.

"So we conclude that suspect YCY is the person who is closely tied to the goods when they were aboard the ship," he added.

YCY is known to serve as the ship's manager and is suspected of controlling the shipment of the cargo. The estimated value of the seized evidence in this case reaches Rp 3.4 trillion.

YCY is charged with violating the provisions of Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health, which is aligned with the criminal provisions in Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustments.

"The article under which the suspect is charged is Article 435 of Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health in conjunction with Appendix I Number 181 of Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustments, with a maximum prison sentence of 12 years or a maximum fine of Category VI amounting to Rp 2 billion," the Chief of Police explained.