18-Year-Old Woman Brings IDR 6.5 Billion Of Methamphetamine, Police Find It In Rice Fields

The Narcotics Investigation Unit (Satresnarkoba) of the Banjarbaru Police, South Kalimantan, managed to uncover a case of circulating 10.3 kilograms of methamphetamine from Pontianak, West Kalimantan. Three suspects were arrested, consisting of one woman and two men.

"Evidence of 10.3 kilograms of methamphetamine was confiscated from three suspects who we arrested in a series of operations from Banjarbaru to Pelaihari," said Banjarbaru Police Chief, AKBP Pius X Febry Aceng Loda at a press conference in Banarbaru, Antara, Tuesday, June 3.

The suspects arrested were LN (18), KS (23), and AF (29), all of whom came from the Pelaihari area, Tanah Laut Regency.

LN and one other suspect were arrested in the land area of Ulin, Banjarbaru. Based on initial information from LN, officers then developed a case and arrested two other perpetrators in Banjarmasin.

The police chief explained that the methamphetamine was planned to be sent to South Sulawesi by land and sea. The methamphetamine was hidden in a rice fields in the Pelaihari area.

"Evidence is stored in the Bramban and Ketapang areas, which are LN villages," he said.

Of the total evidence of 10.3 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, the police estimated the market value to reach Rp6.5 billion, assuming a price of around Rp650 million per kilogram.

"With this evidence confiscated, we saved around 124,246 people from potential drug abuse," explained Pius, accompanied by Deputy Chief of Police Kompol Letjon S and Head of Narcotics Unit AKP Denny Juniansyah.

Meanwhile, AKP Denny Juniansyah added that the three suspects were charged with Article 114 Paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 112 Paragraph 2 of Law Number 35 Year 2009 concerning Narcotics. The maximum penalty is life imprisonment or 20 years and a fine of up to Rp. 10 billion.

"This network is thought to have been sent by land and sea for the first time. We are still investigating whether they are part of a larger syndicate," said Denny.

The investigation continues to be developed to reveal the origin of goods, distribution channels, and the possible involvement of other parties in this cross-provincial methamphetamine distribution network.