KUALA LUMPUR: Police have identified several people and companies linked to a tanker suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and are working to locate them for arrest, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail said.
"We have identified the people. We are trying to locate their whereabouts. The companies and those involved are also in our knowledge.
"Arrests will be made as soon as possible, potentially today or tomorrow," he said after the Spectrum International University College 26th convocation.
Yesterday, Indonesian authorities seized the tanker over the suspected smuggling of 1.16 tonnes of ketamine.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the MT Global 168 was owned by a Johor Baru-based company with two Malaysian directors in their 40s and 50s.
He said both directors had no previous criminal records and would be called in to assist investigations.
Khalid said preliminary investigations showed that the vessel, which is registered in Mongolia, had originated from Johor Baru and was sailing towards the Andaman Sea.
He said illicit activities, including mid-sea transfers, could have taken place.
"There may have been things that occurred beyond our knowledge, such as a ship-to-ship transfer while the vessel was in international waters."
Khalid said Bukit Aman maintained close working relationships with its Asean counterparts, including Indonesia and Laos, as well as international law enforcement partners.
"Malaysian police are now working in close coordination with their Indonesian counterparts to facilitate joint investigations and bring those involved to justice."
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