KUALA LUMPUR: A company director and a sales broker linked to the original ownership and sale of tanker MT Global 168 have been arrested following the seizure of 1.16 tonnes of ketamine by Indonesian authorities last week.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the two men, aged 45 and 44, were arrested in Johor Baru on Sunday.
He said the 45-year-old was a director of the company that originally owned the tanker, while the 44-year-old acted as an agent or broker in its sale.
"Initial investigations found that the vessel was purchased in April to be refurbished and resold for profit.
"MT Global 168 was subsequently sold through an agent or broker to a company based in Yangon, Myanmar, on June 28," he said when contacted today.
Hussein said both men had been remanded for seven days until Nov 1 to assist in the investigation.
Police have also identified three other people, believed to be from Singapore, Taiwan and Myanmar, who are being sought to assist in the investigation into the vessel's sale.
He said the case was being investigated under Section 34 of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Hussein added that the NCID would continue working with Indonesian authorities and other enforcement agencies to share intelligence, trace individuals suspected of being linked to the case and coordinate follow-up action within their respective jurisdictions.
On Oct 24, Hussein confirmed that MT Global 168, seized by Indonesian authorities with 1.16 tonnes of ketamine on board, belonged to a Malaysian-registered company based in Johor Baru.
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1562588/updated-malaysian-company-linked-ketamine-laden-tanker-seized-indonesia
He had said the company had two Malaysian directors in their 40s and 50s who would be called in to assist in the investigation.
The tanker, which was flying the Mongolian flag, was intercepted on Oct 20 in waters off Tanjung Balai Asahan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Authorities found 1,160 packets of ketamine weighing a total of 1.16 tonnes in 58 sacks.
Hussein had also said the vessel was believed to have departed from Pasir Gudang before stopping at Port Klang to refuel and then heading towards the Andaman Sea.
The drugs were believed to have been transferred to the tanker from another vessel through a ship-to-ship (STS) operation at sea.
Indonesian National Police chief General Suyudi Ario Seto was reported as saying the seizure was worth an estimated 3.48 trillion rupiah (about RM785 million). Eight crew members were also arrested.
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