Aceh Police Fails To Smuggle 57 Kilograms Of Shabu

Aceh Police Chief Inspector General Ahmad Haydar (central) showed evidence of methamphetamine at the Aceh Police Headquarters, Banda Aceh, Wednesday (12/7/2023). BETWEEN/M Haris SA

The Aceh Police's Narcotics Investigation Directorate team thwarted the smuggling of methamphetamine-type drugs weighing 57 kilograms in the waters of Aceh Besar District originating from international syndicates.

Aceh Police Chief Inspector General Ahmad Haydar said that apart from confiscating tens of kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, the team also arrested five suspected perpetrators.

"The five suspected perpetrators consisted of two controllers at sea, two controllers on land, and a goods owner. The five suspected perpetrators who were arrested on July 4 and 5, 2023 are now being held at the Aceh Police Headquarters", he asked as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 12.

The five perpetrators, namely the initials AH alias MJ (43), a resident of Sabang City, as the owner of drugs and controllers, both on land and sea, II alias P (32), a resident of Sabang City, as a drug pick-up on land.

Next, RI alias A (31), a resident of North Aceh Regency, as a drug pick-up on land, Y alias W (39), a resident of Sabang City, as a drug pick-up and also a motorboat, and N alias PD (39), a resident of Banda Aceh City, as a drug pick-up and also a tekong.

"The perpetrators are suspected of being the international narcotics network of Thailand, Malaysia, and Aceh or Indonesia. The methamphetamine is from abroad with the aim of being circulated in Indonesia. This disclosure is a synergy between the police and customs", he said.

The Regional Police Chief said that the disclosure of drug smuggling originated from public information. The information stated that there was a shipment of methamphetamine in Aceh Besar waters from the Malaysian Sea.

From this information, the Aceh Police sent a team from the Directorate of Drug Investigation to investigate. The Aceh Police team together with customs marine patrols combed Lamreh waters, Besar Regency. From the sweeping, the team joined forces to see a suspicious motorboat because it fled when approached.

The joint team chased the motorboat. The team had given warning shots. However, the motorboat still fled while three sacks of white burlap into the sea. In the motorboat, four people were seen jumping into the sea until they were finally secured.

From the search again, the team found two sacks containing 57 packages of Chinese tea which included methamphetamine-type drugs. Weighing up to one kilogram per pack. The team also secured a number of cell phones, satellite phones, minibuses, an air weapon, and others.

"From the results of the development, the team again arrested a perpetrator in the Want Jaya area, Aceh Besar District. The perpetrators were charged with Article 114 (2), Article 112 (2) of Law Number 35 of 2009 concerning narcotics. The minimum penalty is 20 years and the maximum is the death penalty", said Ahmad Haydar.

Separately, the Head of the Section for Enforcement and Investigation of the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of Aceh Nanang VH said the thwarting of the 57 kilograms of methamphetamine-type drug smuggling involved the BC15021 Marine Patrol Task Force.

"The failure to smuggle prohibited goods is a synergy between customs and law enforcement officials in protecting the public from the dangers of narcotics and other prohibited goods from abroad", said Nanang VH.