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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The joint team of Batam Customs foiled the smuggling of 10,955 grams of crystal meth. The drugs were seized from two different locations, namely Hang Nadim International Airport and a hotel in the Jodoh area, Batam.
The head of Batam Customs Office, Zaky Firmansyah, said that their first enforcement was carried out against a couple with the initials RD, a 28-year-old male, and AM, a 24-year-old female on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Hang Nadim International Airport. Customs and AVSEC officers identified four suspicious packages in each of their suitcases.
"Based on this suspicion, the officers then looked for the owners of the suitcases and found the two passengers sitting side by side and embracing," Zaky said in an official statement quoted on Friday, January 31, 2025.
He explained that initially the suitcase owners appeared anxious and avoided interaction with the officers. Eventually, the officers checked the contents of the couple's suitcases who claimed they were going on vacation.
"As a result, four transparent plastic packages containing white crystal powder were found in each suitcase, tucked into the folds of their jeans," Zaky explained.
In total, the evidence seized included eight packages of crystal meth, each weighing 280 grams. The illicit items were planned to be taken to their final destination in Kendari using Citilink Airlines with the Batam-Jakarta-Makassar-Kendari route.
"According to the statements from both perpetrators, the items were obtained from a controller with the initials AWI, who was staying at a hotel in the Jodoh area, Batam," said Zaky.
He continued, AM admitted to being a courier after being invited by her friend SASA. She had previously smuggled crystal meth to Kendari and received a net reward of Rp40 million. Meanwhile, RD admitted to being a courier for the first time after being persuaded by his girlfriend, AM, and lured by a reward of Rp50 million.
On January 22, 2025, RD, AM, and SASA were instructed by AWI to travel from Pekanbaru to Batam, with tickets purchased by SASA. Upon arriving in Batam, they stayed in the same hotel as AWI, in the Jodoh area, Batam.
The next day, SASA instructed RD and AM to buy suitcases in Nagoya and second-hand clothing at Pasar Jodoh to fill the suitcases. The suitcases were then handed over to AWI to be filled with packages to be brought along. After packing, the suitcases were returned to RD and AM.
Subsequently, SASA provided cash to RD and AM to separately purchase tickets and for operational needs. Then, RD and AM together departed to Hang Nadim Airport using an online taxi.
After capturing RD and AM, the Head of Enforcement and Investigation Division of Batam Customs, Muhtadi, formed a joint team and deployed the K-9 Unit of Batam Customs to pursue AWI and his network. The team eventually apprehended two men identified as AWI, 25 years old, and RE, 22 years old.
The team searched five rooms used by the network. One of the rooms was used as a place to package the crystal meth, while the other four served as courier and controller rooms.
Following the search, the team found evidence of white crystal powder in the packaging. Additionally, there were other items used to package the crystal meth, including two digital scales, 1 packaging tool, and 1 set of crystal meth inhalation tools or a bong.
The powder was packed in detailed packaging, consisting of 27 plastic bags, each weighing 280 grams, with a total weight of 7,560 grams, 1 bag of 'Guanyinwang' Chinese tea weighing 1,045 grams, 1 ziplock bag of 100 grams in a cigarette wrapper, and 1 ziplock bag of 10 grams in AWI's wallet.
"The total evidence of white crystal powder suspected to be methamphetamine amounts to 8,715 grams," Muhtadi said.
In addition to evidence, authorities also arrested nine other individuals suspected of involvement in the network. They are AWI as the main controller of the syndicate, QA as AWI's wife, OKI as AWI's sister-in-law, RE as AWI's driver, DR as OKI's sibling, NW as AWI's cousin, RS as OKI's friend, GR as AWI's friend, and TES who is RE's wife. Meanwhile, SASA had left the hotel at 6:00 p.m. WIB.
The results of the narcotic test and laboratory tests on the evidence samples indicated that they positively contained Class I narcotic compound of Methamphetamine. Officers also conducted urine tests on the 11 individuals who were apprehended, and three of them tested positive for drug use.
Based on AWI's admission to the officers, he obtained crystal meth from RO, who is the mastermind of this syndicate. AWI had distributed the drugs four times based on RO's orders. He took the items from the areas around the beach in Tanjung Balai Karimun, which were brought by three individuals using a speed boat. AWI then brought the items to the hotel to be refined and packaged.
AWI and OKI recruited family members and close friends as drug couriers. The couriers were promised rewards of up to Rp50 million per trip, while AWI carefully organized the entire process, including booking several hotel rooms and the delivery process of the items at the destination location.
The Drug Unit of Barelang Police Resort has named four suspects, namely AWI, OKI, RD, and AM. In addition, RO, SASA, and NAWI are still being pursued or listed as wanted persons (DPO). The suspects are charged under the Narcotics Law Number 35 of 2009, with a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment.
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