Customs Foil 36 Kg of Opium Smuggling at Bakauheni Port 

BANDARLAMPUNG - The West Sumatra Directorate General of Customs and Excise (DJBC) and KPPBC TMP B Bandarlampung Office, thwarted an attempt to smuggle 36 kilograms (kg) of methamphetamine at Bakauheni Port, South Lampung Regency.

"Together with the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police, Lampung Police, South Lampung Police Narcotics Unit, Bakauheni KSKP, and the support of the Narcotics Interdiction Directorate and the K9 Unit of the DJBC, we managed to thwart two attempts to smuggle methamphetamine (sabu) with a total of 36 kg of evidence," said Head of the West Sumatra DJBC Regional Office, Bier Budy Kismulyanto, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, April 20.

He explained that the disclosure of the smuggling of methamphetamine was carried out on Wednesday (15/4) at the entrance to Bakauheni Port, when officers stopped and inspected a four-wheeled vehicle and found 29 kilograms of methamphetamine.

"The prohibited goods were hidden by the 'false concealment' method on the left and right doors of the vehicle. Two perpetrators were successfully secured in the action," he said.

False concealment is a modus operandi for smuggling illegal goods, especially narcotics, psychotropic substances, and precursors (NPP), by hiding the goods in the shipment, luggage or body, but packaged in such a way as to deceive the officers' inspection.

Then, he continued, on Thursday (16/4) the joint team again carried out further enforcement at the same location. From the results of the examination of other vehicles, officers found seven kilograms of methamphetamine hidden under the front seat of the vehicle.

"Two perpetrators were arrested again for further legal proceedings. All evidence and suspects from both actions have been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police for further investigation and disclosure of a wider network," he said.